Press Releases

Title: The Crown Inn has a new landlord but the landlord vows the pub will stay the same.

Sub title:   A tale of Liz Taylor, some good beer and a full wallet.

Author:    Dean Beedell

Released: 10th April 2006

Link:        www.

The Crown Inn, a traditional English pub nestling in the heart of the South Oxfordshire countryside in the picturesque village of South Moreton has a new landlord. The incomer is John Tomlinson an ex-RAF fitter who served in the Falklands War of 1982 but who is now enjoying the more pleasant life of the English pub landlord. He and his wife Sally have taken over the Crown Inn in order to make it their home and to continue the good service the pub has always provided to the local community and the neighbouring villages. The Crown Inn was previously run by Malcolm nnnnnn who recently retired after 12 years of stewardship of this fine old pub. In Malcolm’s time it earned a deserved reputation for serving superb home-cooked food complemented by fine wines and cask conditioned real ales from the Wadworth brewery. The new landlord has made the wise decision to retain the very best features of the Crown Inn ensuring that it consistently focusses upon providing the same traditional quality dishes that in the past have both delighted and satisfied many. John is of the opinion that too many pubs have gone ‘upmarket’ attempting to satisfy the tastes of non-pub-going folk. John and Sally are not going to make this fundamental mistake and are providing what makes the quintessential English pub a success, good beer, good food at a price you expect to pay, the ambience of a country pub and a good friendly pub welcome.

John and Sally have decided that under their stewardship the Crown Inn will remain a family pub that takes pride in serving in the style of a traditional English pub whilst giving the service you expect from a quality restaurant. A roaring log fire in Winter makes this a cosy place to spend an evening whilst a fine beer garden and patio makes the Crown the perfect place to spend a Summer's day.  The surrounding Oxfordshire countryside provides lovely walks and at the end of a long day’s hiking the Crown’s Wadworth beer will satisfy any tired hill-walker or real ale drinker.

As the Crown Inn is a tied house their beer is provided solely by Wadworth who since the 19th Century have been making a range of fine beers in their towering Victorian brewery in old Devizes town. Not only does the Crown Inn serve the more well-known Wadworth beers such as 6X but they also have a variety of guest beers at all times of the year. All the beers are well kept being stored and served correctly, whilst it is understood that John is currently aiming to attain the CAMRA casque mark. John keeps four real ale pumps serving good quality cask conditioned beers at all times as well as serving lager drinkers with the usual Fosters, keeping Stella Artois for the slightly more discerning lager drinker.

To satisfy your hunger the Crown’s Sunday lunches cannot be bettered, epitomising the idea of the "Full English Roast". They are acclaimed by many as being the best for miles around and are certainly one of the few pubs in South Oxfordshire that serve food all day Sunday, right into the evening.

The daily menu is extensive and the food has a well-earned reputation for being delicious, wholesome and filling being made solely of good quality fresh ingredients. The new landlords do not believe in small plates so their portions are very filling. Anyone who has tried their lamb shoulder will testify that it is both enormously satisfying and very tasty. The Crown Inn has consistently focussed upon providing traditional quality dishes that will both delight and satisfy you. No small portions here! 

The restaurant area is tastefully furnished with some cosy areas where you can eat your meal in warm surroundings. The structure of the Crown Inn incorporates the original 17th Century structure and has retained its nooks and crannies giving the eating experience an intimate feel. In these cosy 'nooky' corners you can sit with your partner in personal conversation whilst still enjoying the ambience of the Crown's restaurant. The Crown is full of antique bits 'n bobs that give it 'Olde Worlde Charme'. One opening is made from the arms of an old cart once pulled by a large-bottomed cart-horse, a one-time resident of the fields surrounding the pub.

Another local, now equally big-bottomed but certainly more famous past-resident was the Hollywood actress Liz Taylor. Back in the 1950s Liz regularly ate and drank in the Crown Inn when performing in Oxford with her equally acclaimed husband Richard Burton. Liz’ favourite drink was Jack Daniels Bourbon whisky of which she had several bottles especially driven down from London to satisfy her daily needs. From that on day Jack Daniels has always been kept ready for her should she ever choose to return to her old local. An unlikely event to be sure but one which the regulars keep hoping might just occur one day.

For those living or working within the Wallingford - Didcot portion of South Oxfordshire it is nice to know that there is a quality eating and drinking house that is affordable as well as being friendly. There is another ‘posh’ pub in the region that states that no item on their menu costs more than £5. Having tried it and finding that even the chips and vegetable side dishes were £5 each I returned home with a significantly lighter wallet and despite the upmarket pretensions I returned feeling less than satisfied. Certainly less satisfied than if I had spent a pleasant and affordable evening in the Crown.

I have since returned to the Crown Inn many times but have never returned to the ‘posh’ pub. Knowing that I can get everything I need at the Crown at an affordable price is all I need to know. The English pub can be a pleasant place to spend your time but it need not empty your wallet.