Three Crowns, London

15/12/24 - Handpump clip for Marble, Manchester Bitter seen 15/12/24. So the following may now be incorrect.

24/07/24 - No cask ale despite two handpumps (one being used for SeaCider cider). Good selection of keg including Drop Project - Flow (5.2% APA).

Retaining much of the original interior (less a few walls), this vast corner pub had returned to its established long term name (which commemorated the visit of King James 1, passing by in 1603 to be crowned King of Scotland, England and Ireland). The corner section fronting onto High Road has fairly conventional wooden tables and chairs for dining or reading at. The Church Street section has a much more vibe bar feel to it with low lighting a bizarre selection of mirrors from the 1700's to the'70's, lending a surreal feel to the low-lit maroon decor. Large scrubbed pine tables jostle with Chesterfields and church chairs for attention with a throbbing incessant ambient soundtrack that on a bad day has you reaching for the paracetamol in seconds.

Good to see the original external metalwork retained and the exterior looking its most normal, if a little dour, for many a year. Like its nearby contemporary the Rochester Castle, the Crowns also features a large vaulted skylight. The bar counter sports a range of dimly lit low hanging lamps. The Waiting Room underneath stays open much longer and features various live events, again see website.