The Crown, Hartest
Latest Reviews
Hartest Crown is a place that has been known to our family for many years, and the recent refurb changes are encouraging (as are the great loos as previous review pointed out). However there is quite clearly a lack of knowledge when it comes to the "dining experience". It seems like the staff are not clued up as to the offering of this establishment and presentation and delivery does not match up to the quality of the premises, overall a major disappointment. Ok it's early days, but there are not many times that you would want to waste your hard earned cash on testing the ability of others to provide a service that you quite clearly pay the price for
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Had a wonderful family celebration lunch at The Crown yesterday. Lovely surroundings and great service. Food was excellent and staff very helpful. Wonderful pub to have as a local!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Just like to say a big thanks to everyone involved with The Crown. It is so nice to have a successful pub on our doorstep. Food is great, especially now the winter menu is on. Staff are extremely helpful friendly and attentive. A great buz about the place and a welcoming atmosphere. Well Done.
Christine
Christine
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I've always liked the crown but sadly over the past 20 yrs its gone into steady decline then David Marjoram tok it over and hey presto what a fab place again.oldy worldly charm with a modern twist.
We booked for dinner on a Saturday night 6 of us and from the off it was great excellent friendly staff Darren and the team are doing a great job.one of the couples with us were from Saffron Walden and they together with the rest of us thought the food,wine and the Abbott ale was first class I wouldn't hesitate to go back,keep up the good work.incidently I've eaten at all of the group restaurants and I would say with out a doubt the Crown is the best experience I've hadRussell volkert
We booked for dinner on a Saturday night 6 of us and from the off it was great excellent friendly staff Darren and the team are doing a great job.one of the couples with us were from Saffron Walden and they together with the rest of us thought the food,wine and the Abbott ale was first class I wouldn't hesitate to go back,keep up the good work.incidently I've eaten at all of the group restaurants and I would say with out a doubt the Crown is the best experience I've hadRussell volkert
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very very impressed. Lovely relaxed setting, attentive staff, sublime fish and chips, lovely fresh haddock like it was just off the boat. Relaxed atmosphere, looking forward to going back.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
New owners,new look and super staff. How lovely to be greeted by welcoming smiles. Super menu and service,this large restaurant is back on the map.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A beautiful restoration with comfortable and attractive furnishings. A huge fireplace for warm autumn evenings, plenty of space outside including a kids area that is far enough away that adults can enjoy the garden too!
Well cooked lunch, some really tasty roast pork with well presented veg. The chef knows how to get the crackling crisp.Duck egg on toast is a great starter as was the beef loaf with 'Bread and Butter' pickles. Plenty of debate about where that phrase has come from.
Well cooked lunch, some really tasty roast pork with well presented veg. The chef knows how to get the crackling crisp.Duck egg on toast is a great starter as was the beef loaf with 'Bread and Butter' pickles. Plenty of debate about where that phrase has come from.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Really good staff - very friendly, welcoming and attentive. Starter and main course were excellent. Pudding was not bad, but lack of choice and fairly ordinary selection were just enough to take the edge off the evening. Really good choice of starters from main menu and specials, also for the main course. Highly recommended though, and we will certainly go back.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The reopened Crown has been well designed, seems to have something for everyone. Large garden with play area for children/families. A well designed out door restaurant area, a bar that you can actually sit at, plus an area for those who just want to chat and have a drink. The restaurant is a lovely panelled room with an adjoining area of seating by a fire which (it is hoped) will be used for cooking! Can't wait to see how that works. We visited on the first occasion during a very stressful (for the staff) lunch session in the first few days after opening....how they coped with the crush I do not know, but they were patient, calm and helpful! If they can get through that then they will cope with anything! We were warned that our meal would take some time but it was worth waiting for! The menu is interesting, changing with the seasons with daily specials. We visited again during a mid week evening and once again had a lovely meal served by friendly professional staff. Looking forward to another visit as soon as we can fit it in .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Went for our 2nd dinner at The Crown since it has changed management , this time for my friend Shantee's birthday .
We were well looked after by our friendly waiters Kevin and Angus and this was the first day of the new Autumn menu and we were not disappointed for choice with our starters being Venison scotch egg with tarragon mayo , scallops x 2 and a generous potted shrimp .Mains of Rib eye steak x 2 , fillet of cod and chicken and mushroom pie with roasted carrots and bubble and squeak .
Deserts ;- lavender panacota with strawberries and comb honey x 2 and carrot cake roulard with stem ginger ice cream x 2.In all a very nice evening had by all , our thanks to the staff at The Crown.
We were well looked after by our friendly waiters Kevin and Angus and this was the first day of the new Autumn menu and we were not disappointed for choice with our starters being Venison scotch egg with tarragon mayo , scallops x 2 and a generous potted shrimp .Mains of Rib eye steak x 2 , fillet of cod and chicken and mushroom pie with roasted carrots and bubble and squeak .
Deserts ;- lavender panacota with strawberries and comb honey x 2 and carrot cake roulard with stem ginger ice cream x 2.In all a very nice evening had by all , our thanks to the staff at The Crown.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Apart from the fact, I got lost on the way, my own stupidity, then my sat nav died, I did arrive at the Crown Hartest, its a lovely venue, its on your left by the village green if coming from Bury st Edmunds. Lovely and welcoming interior and staffl, although one guest did trip on a short step, we all laughed and said one for Tripadvisor. Starters and service were great, we were fortunate to have Kevin as our waiter, his smile and willingness to please made for a great service and a lovely event. My salmon was a tad over done, I like it pink inside, other diners might want it cooked a little longer. The others had roast beef and or pork, with lovely Yorkshire puddings, nice veg and some fine wines. One guest was vegetarian, and had olives as starter and a rather boring plate for mains, it must be so difficult for any establishment to cater not knowing how many vegetarians are coming. All in all, with the sun shining, horse's and riders stopping by for a beer, old cars, children playing in the extensive grounds, a great chocolate cake, a lovely day, well done to all, I had a great time and so did all of our party, and I didn't get lost coming back to Bury St Edmunds
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We booked the Crown and we were a little worried as we hadn't dined there for a few years but heard it was now very good. We were taking some friends to Sunday lunch today so we crossed our fingers hope for the best. the best is what we had. Food and service was lovely, so much so our friends want to go there again when they visit. Love the decor, very tasteful.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The pub is lovely and probably great for a pub lunch in the garden; however, we went for dinner there and had the chicken and choritzo dish which was swimming with oil. I understand that the choritzo is very oily when cooked, but it seems as if they've tipped all the oil all over the vegetables and there was a large amount of oil at the bottom, so much so I couldn't eat it. My friend had the steak and it was cooked as it should be but was as tough as anything. The food was very expensive for what it was and it seems too much time was spent on making it look fancy but not tasting up to scratch. Drinks were expensive too. There are many other lovely pubs around this area, I was disappointed and won't return.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We went for lunch with a group of friends, it was not to busy lots of staff on.
The Crown really looks great the decor is clean, modern & very comfortable.Unfortunately service not good, staff very pleasant just slow and unaware , the food was a long time in arriving, and when it did the chicken dish was awful. I would have brought it to staff attention but really felt they would have not known how to deal with it.
The menu was bit limited and the food, was nowhere near the standard of either the One Bull or The Cadogan.Hopefully this was because they are settling.
The Crown really looks great the decor is clean, modern & very comfortable.Unfortunately service not good, staff very pleasant just slow and unaware , the food was a long time in arriving, and when it did the chicken dish was awful. I would have brought it to staff attention but really felt they would have not known how to deal with it.
The menu was bit limited and the food, was nowhere near the standard of either the One Bull or The Cadogan.Hopefully this was because they are settling.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We were eight people booked in for 7.30pm.On arrival good parking with plenty of room for a Saturday evening.Gastro pub atmosphere.Speedy service, menu varied one special !the duck
Not available.Food OK but lacking in appetizing sauces.On the whole a satisfying evening.Would return again.Prices not extortionate.
Not available.Food OK but lacking in appetizing sauces.On the whole a satisfying evening.Would return again.Prices not extortionate.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We went to the Crown a week after it had re-opened and it certainly didn't disappoint. The food was excellent and the different courses were perfectly timed. The staff were very attentive. The refurbishment has given a tired environment a much needed face lift resulting in a bright, clean welcoming atmosphere. If I had to give a negative it would be that the drinks service to the table was not very quick. We ordered wine with our main course but we had eaten half the food before the wine came, but do not let that put you off giving the Crown a try, you won't be disappointed!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Well, this place has been open for a week today, and as we're Londoners who have a weekend cottage in Suffolk, we're always on the look out for a decent country pub. As it was featured in the Bury Free Press last week we thought we'd suss it out.
The good news is that the new owners have spruced the place up, so the photos of it on TA are all out of date. The loo's have also been spruced up; I know a strange thing to put in a review but when you go to the loo in a pub and almost die of suffocation and/or infection it's something to note.Anyway, arrived at about 1.20pm today. Although Hartest isn't actually the largest village you'll ever go to, finding the pub isn't that easy! Basically, from Bury, when you reach the village, turn left! The inside of the pub decorated very nicely, and it was quite busy. This place has only been open for a week?
Bar pretty good, and shown to a table. Then we noticed we recognised some of the staff who used to be at the Fox in Bury. I had the fish and chips and my partner the burger, and a bottle of NZ Sav Blanc. Wine was £20 which isn't bad considering it was a decent wine, and the burger/f&c about £12 each.Food excellent. I mean it really was for a place open a week. Wine good, surroundings nice, decent car park, and of course, the loos. Service a little rusty, but they'll sort that out I'm sure.
Will we go back?Oh absolutely.
Should have taken a photo though to update the photos on here!
The good news is that the new owners have spruced the place up, so the photos of it on TA are all out of date. The loo's have also been spruced up; I know a strange thing to put in a review but when you go to the loo in a pub and almost die of suffocation and/or infection it's something to note.Anyway, arrived at about 1.20pm today. Although Hartest isn't actually the largest village you'll ever go to, finding the pub isn't that easy! Basically, from Bury, when you reach the village, turn left! The inside of the pub decorated very nicely, and it was quite busy. This place has only been open for a week?
Bar pretty good, and shown to a table. Then we noticed we recognised some of the staff who used to be at the Fox in Bury. I had the fish and chips and my partner the burger, and a bottle of NZ Sav Blanc. Wine was £20 which isn't bad considering it was a decent wine, and the burger/f&c about £12 each.Food excellent. I mean it really was for a place open a week. Wine good, surroundings nice, decent car park, and of course, the loos. Service a little rusty, but they'll sort that out I'm sure.
Will we go back?Oh absolutely.
Should have taken a photo though to update the photos on here!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
New owners started here and now fully open. Excellent for families plenty of room for kids outside to play&climbing frames.Good choice of food well presented.
Can see this pub doing great and booking in advance recommended .
Can see this pub doing great and booking in advance recommended .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The Crown at Hartest has been taken over by our friends at the One Bull, Bury St Edmunds, tonight was the opening night and what a fabulous turn out. On a glorious summer evening, children loved the massive grounds and play area, the village of Hartest now has a great pub, with two dining rooms and all my favourite wines. The car park was heaving and people were all over the inside and outside, I cannot wait to take mum and friends out for a luncheon.A great selection of wines and this could be a must go to venue for christmas lunch or dinner.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We visited on a bank holiday Monday which is why we probably only got a short lunchtime menu to choose from. The food was very nice and the real ale was well kept. The baguette I had was well presented and came with extras of salad and tortilla chips. Serving staff and bar staff all very friendly. We stopped here after a walk which started alongside the pub which takes you up Hartest Hill for a great view of a quintessential village.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We have been here a couple of times and it is always popular. A decent sized carpark which is good, the food is always very nice and the staff very pleasant. The steak I had was to die for - absolutely deliciious, and I am a steak snob!!! There is a huge menu and the food always tastes freshly prepared. It can get very warm in there so ensure you can remove layers! Highly recommended.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Just spent another four days at Crown Cottage Hartest. Went for a meal at The Crown on Thursday 7th March 2013. Great presentation but both had the same thought that we would probably need two bowls of chips. How could we have been such Philistines. The meal was the best we may have ever had and was so good that you find yourself savouring every mouthful and feeling very full and contented by the end.We very seldom bother with a sweet but after such an excellent main course we just had to be tempted and are we glad we did.Presentation and taste equalled what had gone before. If we ever open a restaurant, we will hunt down Matt and team.
Only sour note is that we understand, because of the greedy brewery the pub may struggle to carry on. To Matt and all the team at The Crown Inn, keep up the good work. Best regards Frank and Steph.
Only sour note is that we understand, because of the greedy brewery the pub may struggle to carry on. To Matt and all the team at The Crown Inn, keep up the good work. Best regards Frank and Steph.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Been to this pub many times, always feel very welcome. Food is outstanding, matt the chef and the rest of his team are dedicated to making it a great experience. And the real log fire is always alight.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is our local pub, and every time we go we never fail to be impressed. Matt the chef is very creative, you can tell this by his amazing dishes. Whenever we have spoken to him he comes across extremely enthusiastic which is great to see he enjoys his job. We just can't get enough of his food!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I was completely blown away by my crown experience. I am a vegan and called a week ahead of time to 'warn' the chef. The chef rose to the challenge and prepared one of the tastiest and most creative vegan meals I have experienced - and I make a point of visiting specifically vegan restaurants world-wide. Usually at a country pub I'd expect a plain baked potato (!) and beans if I am lucky but he had clearly put a lot of thought, energy and passion into a three-course gourmet meal. He obviously loves what he does and has a real talent - as well as a willingness to go well beyond 'accommodating' whatever dietary requirements. The (more meaty) meal my dad had also looked both creative and delicious. I was honestly so impressed by the whole experience and felt like the chef had given 150% percent to every mouthful.
The Crown more generally is a welcoming place for locals and visitors alike. Once we'd finished chatting at the bar, we retreated to the restaurant where the service and atmosphere was excellent. Located in the quaintest of country villages with some lovely short strolls nearby. A little bit of everything for everyone! Thoroughly recommend!!!
The Crown more generally is a welcoming place for locals and visitors alike. Once we'd finished chatting at the bar, we retreated to the restaurant where the service and atmosphere was excellent. Located in the quaintest of country villages with some lovely short strolls nearby. A little bit of everything for everyone! Thoroughly recommend!!!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
