The Crown Inn  

The Crown Inn is a unique country inn, set in extensive gardens complete with Petanque pitch, as can be seen from the photos. This beer garden is usually the first you see of the pub as you walk from the car park to the main entrance. This is a large open space with a huge awning for the British weather, but which also makes sitting out on a sunny evening a pleasure. Someone has obviously taken a lot of time grooming the lawns as they are immaculate. The rustic tables and chairs allow you to admire the fruit trees. The pub itself dates back to the 1590s, though it seems pretty innocuous from the outside. It is only when you step inside that you see where that date comes from. Directly opposite the entrance is the very small bar - a rather makeshift affair, or so it seems, but this has been the bar since it began. Behind here you will see all the beers on stillage as there is no cellar. Despite this they were served at a comfortable temperature and I have no complaints with them. Staff are knowledgeable about beer and are prepared to take the sparkler off if you ask. The beers on at the time do not reflect the usual local brewers that are evident. There are plenty of steps inside this multi-roomed pub and so is not recommended for the disabled. The many rooms are set out for their purpose with those to the right of the entrance for eating - the tables are set out with tablecloth and cutlery already. The rooms to the left, up the stairs - the only way to get to them - are for eating or drinking. Many of the rooms have real fires and their own ambience. They are small rooms, but have character and charm. Seating tends to be a mixture of round/square dark wood tables and benches, chairs (carvers/wheel back) and stools. The walls are all bright to offset the dark carpet and the dark wooden beams that populate most rooms. Toilets are clean, though cramped and there is hot and cold water available. Children are also welcomed before 9pm and they have high chairs available for use.

The food - served 12-2.30pm and Dinner from 7-10pm - is renowned in the area and as such gets very busy on Sunday's, so it is best to book in advance. All the food is locally sourced and freshly prepared to order, so can take a little longer when busy. The menu changes regularly to provide seasonal dishes and daily specials are available. The food ranges from the expensive £12 to the not so at £4.50, though even sandwiches can cost more than a city pub. For example, the Sunday menu is £9.95 for two courses or £12.95 for three. The selection tends not to include a vegetarian Sunday option. However, the usual menu does cater for vegetarians and usually has four options on it. If you are thinking of having a party here, they do what's called a Crown Feast for £16.95 per head - usually including a whole roast for you to carve with all the trimmings, plus starter and dessert.

To compliment all this there is no piped music or fruit machines, just the sound of conversation and people enjoying themselves. Also watch out for the pub cat - very friendly if you've a lap to offer. To get to the Crown, you get off the A46 at Uppper Broughton, from A46 towards Leicester take turn to Broughton 100M turn left, 0.3Miles left again, in 1 Mile take road to Old Dalby.

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