The Crown

Before the pesky killjoys put a stop to the street drinks you could enjoy under the tree on the large plinth outside the Crown, this was one of the greatest pubs in Central London. Now? Not so much. Sure, people would buy beers from the newsagent across the road and mix with those more scrupulous with their drinking morals but that was part of what made the atmosphere.

These days you’ll find the traditional pub decorated in the classic Samuel Smith Brewery style of dark wood, dim lighting, intimate drinking ‘cells’ and brewery inspired clutter. And while our gripe on the case of the lost fun outside only comes into play for the summer months (there is a cordoned off outdoor drinking area), during colder times there’s a lot to like about a cosy pub like this. If you’re a fan of Samuel Smith beers – and let’s face it, the price is always a factor – then you’ll be charmed by The Crown as you sink Alpine after Alpine after Alpine, paying around £10 for the pleasure of those three pints. Show us somewhere else in London that you can now get three pints for £10 and we suspect you’d be showing us a workingman’s club in some distant corner of Canning Town. Nothing wrong with that but why would we want to go all the way out to Canning Town when we’re on New Oxford Street?

If you want a super-cosy, good-natured atmosphere to have a pint in around this area, choose the Cross Keys on Endell Street. But, if that’s too busy - and it often is - then you could do much worse than a few cheapies at The Crown.