12. Rose & Crown - New Street (Brakspears)

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"Have just left the Rose and Crown for the second time in four days for having committed the sin of enjoying myself with my friends. (I have been to the Rose and Crown for most days with a 'y' in them for the last nine years.) Apparently, this is not what the Rose and Crown is about because it interferes with the young children's bedtime.

Do by all means visit the Rose and Crown, but make sure you sit quietly in a corner without laughing or jollity. " - Andrew, September 2010

"Went in to the Rose and Crown a couple of times over regatta. On the first visit I had a rather disappointing pint of Oxford Gold. On the second visit I had an excellent pint of Brakspears and really nice fish and chips." - Nick, July 2010

"I have heard on the 'grape-vine' that the current landlord and landlady are leaving the Rose and Crown. If this is true it is a shame." - Nick, April 2010

"Went in to the Rose and Crown for a beer and a bite to eat. Had a very nice couple of pints of Brakspears, and the Christmas mulled wine was really good. For food we had some fish dish (very good), and a sausages and mash (extensive choice of different sausages, and styles of mash). Pub was quite, and the beer and food was good." - Nick, December 2009

"The Rose and Crown is excellent ... great landlady, and very child friendly... food and beer are top quality... (it now has the nickname Rose and Creche, but don't let that put you off)." - Brian, August 2009

"Great find in henley. We popped into this little gem of a pub, while visiting friends. We were made very welcome by the lovely barmaid on entering asked if we were here for dinner, we were not at first but after seeing the menu and the specials they had, we had to stay. I had there homemade steak pie, well I have never tasted a pie so good. The beer is all Brakspear as you would expect from Henley on Thames very well kept and enjoyable. We were also informed that there is a quiz night on Tuesdays (twice a month) which we would have loved to have taken part in but sadly had other engagements.We will be back." - Craig, November 2008

"Yet again another great visit to the Rose & Crown. The management & staff are all very welcoming, first class service. Such a shame the previous comment had a bad experience, I must say I have not ever seen the problems they had. maybe a bit over the top. Had a great roast dinner, I had the rare roast beef & my wife had the roast pork. A first class operation all round" - DufferUK, October 2008

"What a BIG disappointment the Rose and Crown was last Sunday. One waitress was rushed off her feet and when our food arrived over an hour after we?d ordered it, and just as we were about to stand up and leave, we asked if she was working alone. She informed us that the manager was also working? who?d have known? There was no sign of her taking orders, delivering food to tables or pulling a pint. All this was left to one poor, overworked girl who was doing her very best. We asked to see the manager and when she came over to ask if everything was alright, it turned out she was a woman we?d thought was a customer because she?d been swanning about the place showing off her baby. We told her the bar was understaffed and how long we?d waited for our meal and asked if there was only one member of staff on duty. She replied ?No, I?m working as well, but I have to look after my son.? She was unapologetic and her tone was defensive, bordering on agressive - not the best way to treat your customers. She was not prepared to make amends in any way or even understand why we might have been upset so we left our untouched food on the table, paid for our drinks and left. If this woman thinks she can run a business like this, she should seriously think again." - Lynn, October 2008

"Popped in for a beer. Looks pretty good. Beer was good and the other people in the pub appeared to be really enjoying the food (the food looked good). The garden is interesting. A nice place to sit on a summers evening. Another bonus is the pub has a pub dog (always a sign of a good pub), which is a black lab. The well can still be seen in the pub floor and, apparently, the pub has a friendly ghost. Two negative comments: the gravel is too deep in the back garden (makes carrying beer - especially after you have had one or two - a bit difficult); and there is a large telly in the bar which has been on during my last two visits. I will be going back." - Nick, August 2006

"New landlady making a big difference here. Used to be a real 'old mans pub', but is now much livlier with lots going on. Huge menu for a pub, and the food is excellent - would recommend the fishcakes!
Live sport shown too..." - Aideen, August 2006

"Just got a note from the landlady of the Rose and Crown. It appears the 'gravel' problem in the back-garden is being fixed. The TV is on most of the time because they are a very pro live sports pub and show a lot of rugby, football, cricket etc. The most important piece of information in the e-mail is that the dog's name is Harvey!" - The Editor, August 2006

"I have received a couple of emails for the the new landlady of the RnC. Appears there have been a few improvements to the pub and they now have a website at:
http://www.roseandcrownhenley.co.uk/
Looks like a very good site with lots of information on the pub, and a very useful contact and accommodation booking form. I must get a reviewer in to the pub!" - Editor, July 2006

"Popped in for a quick beer as part of a crawl of pubs in Henley. Very, very quiet (it was early evening). Great little town pub. Lovely friendly landlady who made us most welcome. Lots of interesting pictures on the walls. Pub served a good pint." - Nick, November 2002

"It was just starting to rain as we entered the pub. This soon became a violent thunderstorm. There were 3 handpumps on the bar but only the Brakspears Bitter was actually available. The pub is very small but perfectly formed and had a very fishy menu. We didn't eat here but the 3 people on the next table all had fish, chips and peas. To be honest, it looked like frozen chips to us, which was a bit disappointing given the previous reviews of the food, however they all had good sized portions.
Another decent pint in pleasant surroundings." - Ian & Kevin, September 2001

"Last time I wrote I updated you on the Rose & Crown in Henley-on-Thames. Apparently they have now bought a toaster as they want you to emphasise their bed and breakfast in modernised en suite rooms with TOAST for breakfast. (I suspect the toaster and/or operator dies by midday!!). No worries about piano nights.. they haven't found a pianist yet." - Martin, February 1998

"Avoid the sing song nights." - Jon, April 1997

"The highly regarded fish and chips are now on TWO days a week by popular demand.... so, in addition to Tuesdays, they also serve on Fridays. Get there early (They fry at 7:00 pm) or be prepared for a wait since everything is done from scratch. Janet is still the cook and husband Mike the friendly inn keeper. They also have three rooms here for B & B." - Bill, February 1997

"The Rose and Crown may not serve toasted sandwiches but it DOES serve the best fish and chips in Henley on Tuesdays only (Two reviews of the same fish and chips! These must be good - Ed). It also carries a very decent menu and the landlady, Janet, is one of Henley's best cooks. Lots on locals and Kenton theatre actors and playgoers." - Bill, September 1996

"The Rose & Crown does excellent home made Fish & Chips on Tuesday nights. The batter is made using Brakspears!! No toast though but generous with the Mayonnaise (for the chips of course!!). Worth a try." - Martin, September 1996

"New managers! Food is overpriced and you can't get toasted sandwiches. Rather too sedate for me... only redeeming thing would be the underground well inside the pub with a glass cover so that theoretically you can see into it... only it's always full of condensation so you can't.... OK garden but I'd say give it a miss unless you are 95 and don't like toasted sandwiches (have you ever heard of somewhere not able to make toast??!!)" - Luci, August 1996

"Whoops! Another one that I haven't been in to for a number of years!! I do remember the well though!" - Nick, July 1995

"I don't like this pub, although can't say why. Probably popular with tourists although maybe not. Opposite the Kenton Theatre, the third oldest in the country. There is a glass window in the floor in the middle of this pub, why? I have only had a sandwich at lunchtime, it was fine. There is a restaurant." - Mary, July 1995