The Crown

I think Yankee Girl went to a different pub! This used to be a cracking pub7 or 8 years ago until the brewery put in a series of rubbish managers and then refurbed to look like a coffee shop. Still not the worst pub in Eltham though!

The Crown is one of Eltham’s less agreeable establishments. An air of menace lingers here, even on a Sunday when one would hope the locals might feel a little more relaxed after a heavy night of drinking and fighting. My token visit, on a Sunday no less, was brought to an abrupt end when a catfight broke out at the bar.
Its late license it sole reason it warrants two stars. If you’re looking for a drink post-​11pm, you’ll either need to be a local in a decent pub or resort to this unfortunate place.

Should you have the misfortune of knowing folks in Eltham, in the dodgier part of Kent, you could do worse than heading over to The Crown pub, just off of Eltham High Street.
A decently spacious pub with traditional wooden bar and fixings, The Crown offers some of the best bartenders around, with fast and efficient service and friendly demeanor.
The crowd during the week is typical local pub style — OAP gents spouting Estuary English trueisms, after work builders and the occasional well-​dressed girly group.
During the weekend it’s a bit better, with lots of 20-​somethings and a decently noisy crowd.
The bar offers an excellent selection of beers, with the traditional lagers and bitters, and some great local choices as well. There’s a really good collection of spirits and liquers, including Tequila Rose and some hard-​to-​find flavoured Absoluts and Smirnoffs.
There is a small, English-​style pool table near the back, and karaōke on the weekends. There are enough big tables for groups, and smaller booths. Most of the chairs are leather and wood, and quite comfy.
The ladies bathrooms are liveable, very nicely decorated, with some fabulous statement mirrors and chic wallpaper.
The beer garden/​smoking area is biggish, and has a nice alcove with a light and heating lamp. There are plenty of picnic benches and chairs, and ashtrays everywhere, so you don’t have to step carefully between fag butts to find a seat outside.
The Crown can get a bit «active» late night on the weekends, with a few thugs turning up and causing mischief, but the bar staff are quite good at stopping the fights before they get too messy. So if you’re looking for a quiet drink or good fun, it’s best to head elsewhere after 11pm on the weekends.