I'm a local in the area and have been for some 20 years, I don't often frequent the Crown as it's overpriced and a bit poncey. However, I had to meet a friend there yesterday. Having had to wait 5 mins to get acknowledged that I would like to enter the pub to buy a drink - I had checked in by that stage via trace and trace etc. I ordered pint - took another 5 mins. I then asked to be seated outside and was told there was a table free but it was reserved from 1900hrs - no problem I said. I had my drink and asked if the barman could watch my bike while went and to the local Tesco. I duly came back and was on the phone to a friend. I ordered another pint and went to an empty table which had been just vacated. I was told to get up and move by the barmaid I asked why - I'm still on a phone conversation this stage - she started ranting about COVID - I said that there's no one on the table and mentioned difficult times and corona and duly moved and asked the barman if the other table I had was still free. He informed that he had held it for me. I sat down and continued my telephone call. The barman then came out and told me he could no serve as I had swore at the waitress - blatenly untrue - at which I protested and was told that he believed me but I still had to leave. I said no - call the police as I didn't swear at his waiters. He offered to give me a takeaway glass and met ordered cider but I had to leave the seated public area which actually belongs to Islington council. . I said why should I as I had done nothing wrong. The waitress then came out and I remarked to her that I never swore at her. She said I had and that I had just swore at her it again when I hadn't and despite the manager standing there too! A waitress of the Eastern European persuasion and obviously cannot distinguish the various accents and brogue of these Islands.. I'm Irish and I do not swear as a rule! I was asked to leave for no reason other than anti-Irish prejudice and a cloth eared bad English speaker and a manager who while supporting his staff was happy to let this Kafkaesque farce ensue. I'M REALLY NOT HAPPY ABOUT BEING SLANDERED AND ACCUSED OF SOMETHING I DID NOT DO. NOT ONCE BUT TWICE. I WILL CONSULT MY LAWYERS AND SEE ABOUT CHARACTER DEFAMATION read more

Farringdon is always dead on Sundays so most pubs are almost empty. I went to this one with my improv group after class and we had lunch at about 3.30pm. While they were doing Sunday roasts they were out of yorkshires and gravy so my friend had to manage with mint jelly and the other usual condiments. I went for the fish and chips which was ok, but the peas were a blob on side that looked a bit weird so I didn't want to eat it. The chicken salads that my other two friends got seemed pretty good though. I think the atmosphere will be much nicer when the pub is full and there's even games that you can play so it's ideal for groups. I would say to avoid it on Sunday though because it won't be up to speed. read more

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My view of the Crown Tavern was slightly dampened by a small ginger boy that cried for the entirety of our visit, well, until his parents bought him a pint of coke and some chips. After that he just climbed everything in sight- including my boyfriend! To call him annoying would be an understatement...he was deliberately trying to choke himself with scrabble pieces! As far as the bar itself goes the Crown Tavern is fine. Just fine. Whilst they had quite a nice selection of beers on draught and an extensive wine list, it turned out that a lot of these were 'off' as we were told by a very surly barmaid. Drink prices were pretty average for Clerkenwell but still more expensive than I would usually pay. The seating was comfortable, especially at the back room with all the sofa's but generally the decor was nothing special. In fact, all the squinty paintings started to really bother me but maybe that says more about my own OCD. I suppose the best thing about this bar is really that it is one of the few places in the area that bothers to open on a Sunday. Most places around here seem to close as soon as the city boys leave for the week and so it can be quite hard to find a pub that's open. For this reason alone I expect I'll probably find myself back here some day. read more

Crown Tavern - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Very interesting place for those who interested in Russian revolution. Lenin and Stalin met here in the beginning of 20th century. The drinks are typical for London pubs. I drank Timothy Taylor ale and liked it. On the 1st floor there is a big mirror on the wall and very comfortable old armchairs. In the toilet there was a person who pushed liquid soap on visitors hands and gave them paper towels after hands-washing. read more

A top pub. I worked around the corner from this place for the last few months and was a regular. Loved it. A great selection of beers, excellent pub grub (the burgers are a must-try) and insanely comfortable seats and couches. The staff are generally very friendly, and even when it's jammers busy (which is frequently is on a Friday night) they keep their cool and their smiles. When it's warm enough, there are seats outside and they'll even come out to take orders if they know you. Very handy! All in all, it's far too easy to spend the evening here :-) read more

Crown Tavern - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Came to catch the women's World Cup match and thankfully they were playing it, in the back room, to 4 tables. No matter, we snagged a corner and parked ourselves in for the game. Service was prompt and not unfriendly but plates were v small portions and prices were more gastropub level which this place is decidedly not. Would not be compelled to return unless they were again one of the few places showing a game others were not. Also, poor ventilation for a hot summer day made it stuffy. read more

Tucked away in what looks like a Hollywood backlot (or does a Hollywood backlot look like this? Mr Baudrillard would be so proud...) the Crown Tavern regally rests beckoning wary Sunday revelers in for a pint. (By beckoning, I mean it's the only place open in the ghost town that becomes Clerkenwell Close on the weekends, so just having lights on pulls us in like mosquitoes to a bug-zapper.) A big bold house Shiraz for £3 pulled me up to the bar, but it was the impressive 20+ draught selections from specialty beers to ciders, real ales, and fruity fruit beers that kept me there for another round. And of course the kicker - board games galore! While I chose to avoid the grub based on other, ahem, yelper experiences, I did find the upstairs to be warm and cosy with a toasty fireplace, a pint and a game (or five) of scrabble. It has now become my Sunday routine. Scrabble Sundays at the Crown. There's a nice ring to that... read more

ehh... I don't really have anything redeeming to say about this bar. Our drink orders had been made improperly several times, they seemed confused when we brought things back to be remade because they tasted awful and weren't what we had ordered... The back room was sweltering hot, and has this lovely little glass window that looks into the kitchen... yeah, we saw the kitchen staff clearly eating off of plates that were being brought back while they were scraping them off into the garbage............................................................. ahh.... ..... That's gross.. Health code violations aside, the drinks were a little too pricey to warrant a return trip... I lived within two blocks from here and I would rather take a bus into central London if that was my only other option, luckily, there's plenty of pubs in the area... I suggest you find one of them... There's several in close proximity, do yourself a favor and venture around. read more

I want to like this pub more than I do, but there are things that are acceptable, and there are things that are most definitely not. On purchasing a round of drinks from the bar, the total came to just shy of £20.00, I handed over a 20 and asked the bar tender to ensure that he gave me the bill. He took the money, processed my receipt and handed it to me then walked away. I looked at the paper in my hand to confirm my suspicion, and yes, I was owed change. I looked up to see the bar tender at the other end of the bar, so I caught the eye of his colleague and told her that he had not given me my change. She in turn advised him of his mistake and he returned to the till opened it and without even acknowledgement of the mistake, let alone an apology, he handed me what was due to me, but the way he did is was like I was in the wrong somehow. I got the sense that this was something that he did often, my thought process is that due to the busyness of the bar and how load it is, people will just think 'Oh never mind' and not bother following up in their change. Do that a few times and you're laughing. read more

Great place on a hot summer evening (which we haven't had a lot of in London this summer.... boohoo). Stay outside, soak in a bit of the London crowd, sipping on your fruli strawberry beer. It gets really crowded, but that's all part of the fun, methinks. Great clerkenwell village ambience, surrounded by old edge of east london low rise buildings. This, for me is the epitomy of London outdoor pub life. Despite crappy weather, this city still has one of the best outdoor scenes ever. read more

Hmm, Clerkenwell is odd. It was the home of some radical Marxists - there is a Marx museum and blue plaques to boot. The Guardian Newspaper used to have their offices round there to keep that authentic left wing vibe going. But it's so close to the financial heart of London that come Thursday and Friday lunch time, the suits descend. The Crown Tavern is a haven for them and it tries to live up to that. Pretty fancy menu, I had a fish fingers sandwich with a lime coolee or sauce or something. Now is that really necessary. It's a fish finger sandwich, not very hard to make and the cheapest thing on the menu. So what do we do with such a dish, ponce it up with some lime coolee! Drinks are expensive, clientele is not my style - won't be returning anytime soon. read more

3 friends and I went here on a Sunday evening. I was in the mood for a veggie Sunday Roast and yay they had one! The nut roast was yum with all the trimmings, the others had the pork belly, lamb and roast chicken and all were satisfied. If that wasn't enough we had the cheeseboard after, perfect way to round off a nice meal. Good selection of beer including Kirin, a Japanese beer, very tasty. They also had a selection of fruit beers and ales. We sat in a cosy corner where we all felt very relaxed, I think all of us were horizontal at some point in the evening! It was the perfect place for a lazy Sunday afternoon, the only thing that could have made it better would have been a game of scrabble. read more

Cosy, warm and smelling of mulled wine, I visited this pub a couple of times before Christmas and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Why? Because it looks like your run-of-the-mill pub and in every respect it is, apart from one fantastic perk - its staff! Both times I came it was busy. Bustling in fact, with over-eager Christmas drinkers coming in hoards from work and taking up all of the valuable seating space. The staff couldn't have been more attentive when asked if there was any space left upstairs or in the dining area. The second time I visited the manager even came over to help us move stools to a little spot we had found in the corner and told us he'd keep an eye out for seats and give us first dibs if any became available. How sweet! I had a house white which was a chenin blanc - it was cold and reasonably good - my friends partook in the festivities with a bit of mulled wine and were extremely happy. It did smell good. All in all a decent pub with lovely staff. I wouldn't choose it as my first watering hole as there are probably more 'atmospheric' places in the area, however it was a nice stop around the holidays and decorated beautifully for Christmas. I wouldn't mind popping in again sometime when it's a little less crowded! read more

This has the makings of an excellent pub. There is a good selection of wine, a decent selection of real ales, and a superb selection of bottled beers and ciders from around the world (I favour the Liberty Ale). The lunchtime burgers and chips are excellent (I've also had the club sandwich which was good, though not as noteworthy as the burgers), and the prices reasonable for the area (though the beer is a little steep). They have a promotion on - on Mondays, most wine is £10 a bottle. What lets this pub down is the service. Whilst it's largely friendly (with one exception), it is cripplingly slow. I have waited 6 or 7 minutes just for my change, whilst the ever changing bar staff attempt to fathom out the till. If this were the exception, you'd smile and shrug it off, but it happens every time I go. This is a shame, as this pub would get a solid four stars from me otherwise - the mix of drinks, seating styles (from high stools to cosy chairs; from window-airy to niche dark and cosy) suit a wide range of clientèle. I have gone in with folk my own age (40ish) and much younger (20ish) and all have found something to amuse (including a selection of board games). They just need to sort their service out. read more

We came here for a friend's birthday drinks on a Friday evening right after Christmas. When I walked through the door, the place was quite warm and smelled of mulled wine. That's always a good sign (not that I had any mulled wine). Our friend's weren't in the downstairs part of the pub, but there is an upstairs room as well, and they had a table there, so that's where we spent most of the night. First, if you're reviewing a pub, I suppose the beer is always the first place to go. They had a nice selection of five cask ales on draught. That's always the sign of a good pub for me! The more cask ales I have to choose from, the happier I'll be. And it's not like going to a Sam Smith's or a McMullen's pub where you only have their beer to drink, it was a selection from several different places. I had a dark ale, which went down like a dream. However, other people seemed to be enjoying the dark lager (not on cask), which seemed a bit strange to me, but it was being had quite a bit by the group. The food here is also delicious. I had the pork and chorizo burger. It wasn't the best burger, but better than most pub burgers, plus the chorizo really added something to it. It skinny fries were very tasty and we got a side of beer battered onion rings as well. They were very light and not at all greasy (which is something I look for in a delicious onion ring). The other half had the pork belly with apple mash and fried blood pudding. He said it was really delicious! If you're in the area and want a pub that seems a bit less trendy and chain-like, this is the place. The food is very gastropubby without the pretentious atmosphere! read more

Headed here for a swift lunch last week, and found a little gem. The guys behind the bar are really nice, the atmosphere really relaxed - and the food delicious. We had burgers, me the cheeseburger, him the chorizo and pork. Both were amazing, and I'm dreaming about them still. Can't wait to go back! read more

This is a cool pub. Lots of god yummy things to drink (think Leffe, great spirits) and it has a pretty god vibe. There's something about pubs with board games that feel cosy. It's fun to have a few beers in the afternoon and play about. I only came here for a quick drink before going into town and I wished I'd had more time here. I'll be coming back as it's close enough to the tube to make life easy, but off the beaten track enough to not be too packed. What is it about Farringdon that makes it so damn good at pubs? Another note, it's open at the weekends too. That seems a strange thing to mention if you don't know the area, but a lot of pubs shut around here over the weekend. This one gets extra points for that. read more

I have drank in the crown a few times over the years and decided to have my 50th birthday celebration in the lounge upstairs. Martin and his team were brilliant in ensuring we had a brilliant evening, friendly and accommodating. The function room is a really lovely space with nice decor and lighting. I had ordered various plates and boards from their buffet menu, the food and service was outstanding. I wouldn't hesitate to book it for your party or celebration. read more

A rustic pub with Marxist history. The first thing that hit me when I walked through the door was the funny smell in the air. I'm not sure if this a permanent feature of the venue, but it was a little unpleasant when I had lunch here in late March. The food is decent pub grub but you probably wont be raving about it to your friends and family when you get home. If you've been to a Mitchells & Butlers pub in the past then you'll probably be familiar with the menu. For the money, you can't really argue. There seemed to be a decent selection of beers on draft, but I wasn't drinking so I cant comment on the quality. Service functional and didn't stand out as great or sub par. read more

This pub has many things going for it, including its location on the green, a large pedestrian only, pavement area, where it opens up with plenty of space for drinking during the summer. Unfortunately it sometimes gets too popular during summer and fetching drinks can be quite a chore. It's nice and cosy inside with comfy chairs and stools for a small number of groups although this plays against it in winter when it's so busy that what space there is fills up quite quickly. They serve food here as well, and the grub is pretty good for a pub with all the classics including bangers and mash, burgers, and various roasts. read more

Ive been here a couple of times for drinks after work and there is always a great atmosphere in the place. The bartenders there are always (well when ive been there) in a good mood. Whilst it isn't the biggest of bars, this helps because the cosy atmosphere adds to the place. Last weekend my friend hired out the upstairs room for his birthday. It was a great little space, reminded me almost of a living room with a large fireplace and a few sofas. The food we ordered came quickly and tasted good. Although this was only a few platters im sure the rest of the menu would follow at the same level. This place is always full of the creative sorts that migrate and work in the Clerkenwell area. read more

The Crown Tavern is a little hidden gem. There's a very nice choice of beers and has a lovely friendly atmosphere. The staff are attentive and very helpful. Downstairs is a normal London pub, but upstairs has a very nice intimate feel. The seating upstairs is on the eclectic side, very odd shapes and has a lovely small open fire. A 'real' fire. The food is good, better since the menu got smaller. My only gripe is that if you're upstairs you need to go downstairs to get a drink as the staff rarely venture upstairs unless they know you're eating. Overall, it's a lovely place to go and I'd recommend it if you're ever in the area. read more

I wish this was my local!! As it is, I came here on Saturday for some relaxed birthday drinks before moving on to a nearby play. How refreshing to find a part of London that is not heaving with people on a Saturday. We started off on one of the tables overlooking the green (and our car - the parking meters had scoffed all our change but not spat out the promised tickets ...) and later moved indoors for lunch. This actually felt more like being in a French village than so close to the City of London. The menu includes a good selection of comfort food you would expect from a pub nowadays. It's all extremely well cooked, nicely presented and delicious. We sampled a good selection of their beers and wines - how refreshing to find a place where you don't have to choose by matters of elimination but actually leave with a few options still unsampled. Good selection of staff as well who ranged from Russel Brand's younger brother to a tattoed matron trying to stop us from leaving by telling us the play would be rubbish ... read more

bloody expensive! £4.80 for a pint which is unbelievable....why not call it a 5er and be done with it. even more so when a walk up the road to exmouth market and the same pint is £3.75. that being said its location, as always. and on a summers day it goes off. in fact any day where the sun is out it gets real busy on the clerkenwell green. my work local. oh and the food is pretty decent. read more

Has been great at off-peak times but lunch service can be a little peculiar, often requiring one to simply help oneself to knives and forks that have just been forgotten and then the requests for them have also been lost. I'm told Fridays are worse. Still, would happily return. read more

A really great pub - I have travelled all the way across town to enjoy a drink there. Its cosy inside and has a great bit towards the back you can book tables for special events. In the summer, you can enjoy the outside space on Clerkenwell Green where the pub put out some tables. Very friendly service and cool clientelle. read more

Great Saturday Lunch in a relaxed atmosphere

The Crown Tavern is an authentic, traditional English Pub with fantastic food and service. We lived near the Crown Tavern for a few months, and took many opportunities to eat there. We have two kids, and they loved the food, while my wife and I loved both the food and the pints! There is a great variety of both ales and ciders to choose from, and the selection changes with the seasons. The service and staff at the Crown Tavern are amazing - so friendly and pleasant, and very helpful with the kids. We particularly enjoyed the Sunday Roast (which we probably had 10 times) - it was spectacular. The chicken was some of the best we've ever had, anywhere - they have a knack for making incredibly juicy chicken with a very flavorful skin that is delicious. The atmosphere of the Tavern is also great. We usually ate in the clock room, which was very appropriate for families, but my wife and I also enjoyed pints in the main bar area, and upstairs - the whole of the pub has a wonderful feel, with great ambiance and style. Once the weather warms up, the outdoor space spills over into Clerkenwell Green. There are plenty of outdoor tables for standing or relaxing, and the crowd is always pleasant. You can't ask for a better pub! read more

A really lovely pub with lots of history, I'm told Lenin meet Starlin in this pub. We had the roast beef which was really tasty and a good portion size. The service was really great, they were fun and chatty while also being efficient. I would recommend. read more

Mediocre service, sweltering hot upstairs room, but the clincher was how generally rude and arrogant the other clientele seemed to be! Perhaps it was just a bad evening, but definitely won't be going back. read more