During the summer, The Crown becomes a fill up point for the crowds that descend on Seven Dials roundabout but in the winter the small saloon returns to its cosy London pub roots.

The Venue
The Crown is often recognised purely for the crowds outside rather than anything to do with the building itself. People line up and spill onto the roundabout to sample a piece of Covent Garden living. If the crowds aren't there to give you a clue then the hanging baskets circling should help.

Inside, the pub is an attractive and historical triangular building that looks out towards Earlham Street. The historical feel continues inside with classic brass piping and dark wood oozing a cosy charm, although there isn't much to distinguish the interior from other pubs of a similar calibre. The interior isn't big by any stretch of the imagination, but it makes the most of the space that it has with high stools propping you towards ledges and tables dotted where they can be fitted. Above all this place trades on its location and attracts many with it.

The Atmosphere
Weekdays are quiet at The Crown until the clock strikes 5pm and the West End's diverse workforce begin to filter out, at which point the pub fills up at a steady rate. You'll find a mixture of shop workers, suits and tourists and it's a friendly place to be. The after work crowd can often group into sector strong cliques but at The Crown people mix and the rush for the bar isn't as important as enjoying the freedom from the office, shop or restaurant for another evening.

Weekends follow the after work tradition with an extra emphasis on tourists. In the summer, the number of alfresco drinkers becomes something of a community. Late afternoon and early evenings are the best times for the winter - the sun goes down on Covent Garden and the lights of the pub welcome you to relax and watch the world go by in this pretty part of London.

The Drink
The first clue to the prices is the blackboard in the window that boasts Pimms at what seems like a price perhaps better to be hidden. The next is the price of a pint of Kronenbourg that easily breaks the £3 a pint margin. The Crown does trade on its location, with other overpriced run of the mill lagers like Stella, Fosters and Carlsberg it obviously takes something to justify the prices.

The wine list is short but the crowd is mostly beer drinking, which is just as well because when the pub is busy you'll be hard pressed to find anything other than the street on which to put down your drinks. The range of spirits is standard, but at least there’s a selection of ales on tap. The Bombardier and IPA Green King are both present.

The Last Word
The Crown is a good natured and welcoming place for a pint and it will always attract those in the area. When it comes to prices it may not compete with the Samuel Smith pub of the same name just around the corner, but many are willing to pay to have the picturesque, people-watching Central Perk of Seven dials.

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