The Crown (Stoke By Nayland)

The Crown at Stoke by Nayland is a privately owned village inn and boutique hotel with a reputation for making everyone feel welcome, provide delicious food and drink, luxurious accommodation and friendly service. This reputation is built upon relaxed yet attentive and friendly service, great food, freshly cooked, and a fabulous array of wines and beers. The menu changes every five weeks and always embraces seasonality and local produce. There is also a fish specials board which changes daily. Sunday lunch is an important part of The Crown's week - served from noon until 9:00pm, with the menu including two roasts (until they run out). These are usually roast beef and roast pork. The outside terrace is a truly wonderful place to sit on a sunny day. Guests are asked to order at the bar, although if you prefer to eat inside a full table service is provided. The Crown opened its own boutique Hotel in 2008. Designed in sympathy with the beautiful surroundings and situated separately and to the rear of the pub, you will find 11 luxuriously appointed bedrooms, all en suite and with every attention to detail. The atmosphere is one of effortless style and the emphasis is on comfort and excellent service.

Facilities

Rooms Available

Bar

Onsite Parking

Parties Welcome

Vegetarian

Private Dining

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Customer Reviews

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Oh Dear! Standards are dropping & 'The Crown', once the jewel of Stoke-By-Nayland is taking profit

by Dublotiger on 09 Jul 2021

FOOD

SERVICE

AMBIENCE

VALUE

Since I no longer live locally, I had not visited The Crown since very soon after the 'Chestnut Group' bought it from it's creators. Sadly there is now a great difference: First off, the car park had a large pile of beer kegs in it, plus four more blocking the route to the hotel. A car, (I assume a staff member), was parked against the hedge by the building, with a 'For Sale' notice on it! Next I noticed that the clever & subtle 'The Crown' logo on the front gable (& everywhere else), had been replaced with a brash 'Clown's hat' device; in the case of the front gable without removing evidence of the original, or filling the holes, or painting over. These were the warning signs! Inside was much as I remembered, but with some bad re-decorating. The main problem was, of course, the food: The Nuts, olives & bread 'nibbles' were OK, though the walnuts were burnt & the olives were cheap Spanish ones. Main courses: My 'Lamb Rump, pea & mint puree, confit new potatoes, Garlic & Shallot Mange Tout, & shallot sauce, (£18), Was a not very tender & rather fatty piece of lamb, in a basic lamb gravy, with three tiny 'squirts of pea puree, three tiny roasted (confit?) new potatoes, & a few mange tout, made up with small peas that were probably frozen. The 'Garlic & Shallot Mange Tout' was not present in any way in the flavour of the sauce which was VERY over salt, & in no way a separate sauce or flavour. In short it was presented 'On the Cheap', for £18! NOT IMPRESSED! I mentioned my concerns to the server, but nothing was done. Two of our party had the 'Smoked Paprika Chicken Burger', (£15.50). This was a half of a small breast of chicken, cut flatwards, so it was thin & dried out badly in the cooking. Barely edible at all. My partner took most home for the dog! The 'Gem lettuce' was dark, old, flat-leaf stuff, & I don't think the chips were made 'in house'. For the price, can you REALLY not afford a whole breast of chicken? The meat menu is very limited; if you don't want a steak (£25.50/£32.50), or offal, then just two choices! One of our party said they enjoyed the smoked fish, but the portion was TINY. Come on Crown, we all know too well what happens when a successful eatery is taken over by a greedy chain; it happened with the same owners previous creation, 'The Angel' in Stoke By Nayland; a raving success in the '80s & '90s, then almost run into the ground by stupid new chain owners. From what I see, you need to be aware of the approaching threat from a new, re-vamped 'Angel', If you charge too much & don't deliver on your menu, your future is very uncertain. I, for one, will not be happy to consider returning for some time, I fear. Such a great shame, you were handed the 'Golden Goose', but fail to see it.