The Crown Hotel

I asked three times how long my sandwich and toastie would take. I got no answer, and the wait stretched from 35 to 50 minutes. When the food finally came, they said the toastie had been put through as a sandwich, so they had to remake it. I had an appointment to get to. The wait was ridiculous, and they should at least be honest about how long a sandwich will take. I won’t go again.

We won’t be back to The Crown Hotel Pub. On our second round I waited at the bar for five minutes while people who arrived after me were served. My wife had better luck, so she handled the rest of our drinks and food order. When our food arrived, I had no cutlery or napkins. I’d ordered chunky chips, so I ate them with my fingers, but some had rotten bits. We were a group of three, my wife, brother-in-law and me, and the meal and drinks were a disappointment. Service also felt cursory when the food arrived, so speak up if something’s wrong. If you sit down, you may be ignored, and as a weary traveller you might have to push your way in at the bar. Maybe locals get a warmer greeting and are served first. We couldn’t see any parking. Maybe there’s some round the back, but I don’t know, and don’t want to find out. There is, though, a fantastic traditional English pub down the High Street. The staff and manager were great, the drinks and atmosphere were lovely, and the manager chatted football with us. We even got to pet his dog.

The rooms are fairly basic, but decent for the price and location. I’ve also had great food here, with good service and nice decor. The atmosphere is pleasant, especially when they play Motown and soul classics on Magic Soul.

The place was spotless and comfortable, though the decor could use an update. I asked for a quiet, dark room because I needed a bed for the night while working, and that’s exactly what I got. My only gripe was the pre-prepared sausage and bacon microwaved for breakfast. I’ll definitely stay again when I’m in the area.