The Crown & Garter

We left feeling unwelcome, which was especially upsetting because this pub means a lot to us. My partner and his two best friends all have birthdays over the same weekend, and we come back each year for a birthday drink. My in-laws first met here 30 years ago. On Saturday the 29th of November, we were excited and noisy, so we sat outside in the garden to avoid disturbing anyone inside. At 10:10 pm, the bar manager came out and said they closed in 15 minutes. I checked online and, as I remembered from our yearly visits, it said 11 pm. When I went in to ask, she looked at the locals and changed the closing time to 10:30 pm. It felt clear she wanted us gone, so we finished our drinks and left. Maybe there’s new management. If you’re around 30 and hoping to have a quiet drink with friends away from town, I’d avoid this place.

The lamb roast was superb, with plenty of gravy and vegetables I especially enjoyed. We came for Sunday pub lunch, and the food arrived promptly. Our waiter was pleasant and polite, and the place had a lovely feel to it. I’d happily come back.

The venison was delicious, but for £24 the two fairly small pieces came with just a little swede and carrot mash and some excellent jus. Mashed potatoes cost an extra £4. We also had a cooked breakfast, and I thought it was a bit mean to charge extra for toast, yoghurt or anything similar. That’s why I’ve given four stars rather than five, though we’ll be back. This is our regular place to stay when visiting my elderly parents in Maidenhead, and I think this was our fourth or fifth visit. We were welcomed warmly again and had a very good stay. We’ve tried five different rooms, all a good size, with great bathrooms and very comfortable beds.

Lunch was a bit expensive, and £10 for a pint of Golden ale is ridiculous. At my local gastropub in Surrey, I pay £5.7 a pint. The food was really tasty, though, and the service helpful.