Pub Heritage Old Crown
Pub Heritage Group have recently carried out a regrading of Real Heritage Pubs - click here for full details
Somerset - Kelston
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed Status: II
Bath RoadKelston
BA1 9AQ
Tel: (01225) 233065
Email: hello@oldcrownkelston.com
Website http://oldcrownkelston.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/oldcrownkelston
Real Ale: Yes
Lunchtime Meals: Yes
Evening Meals: Yes
Public Transport: Near Bus Stop
Bus: Yes
View on: Whatpub
This late-18th-century coaching inn has two small historic bars, both with flagstone floors, Victorian bar counters, stone fireplaces, dado panelling and fixed seating. The lounge bar (which was once a mortuary) has a notable bar-back fitting that moves to access the cellar. Fine heavy-carved settles can be found throughout the pub. The rarity here is the set of cash-register handpumps (in the public bar). Until recently, these were the only ones in regular use but they have now been joined by a renovated set at the Prince of Wales, Holcombe Regis, Devon and also one at a Kent micro-pub. Off the lounge, the small dining room was brought into use in recent years. Pity about the ubiquitous gastro-grey plain now liberally applied to old wooden surfaces.
Late 18th-century coaching inn retaining two historic bars and still using its cash register handpumps on a daily basis. Until January 2016 these were the only known working set in regular use when they were joined by a renovated set being installed in a micro-pub, The Freed Man, Walmer, Kent.
On the left is the lounge bar with a flagstone floor, old, possibly Victorian bar counter, the bar-back fitting is unusual as the cupboards forming the bottom section are actually the main access to the ground floor cellar and at less than three feet high are a health and safety matter says the manager. The top half of the bar back looks modern. There are small settles either side of the small old fireplace and there is a small leaded glass panel above the right-hand part of the seating. Off the lounge are small dining rooms to the rear left and right, brought into use in recent years.
Through a latch door and small passage to the right is the public bar with a flagstone floor, another old, possibly Victorian bar counter with the set of four cash register handpumps dispensing Butcombe Bitter and real cider. The small room has old Victorian bar back shelves, ancient range fireplace, old dado panelling, and fixed seating. Though a doorway to the right is another small flagstone floor (which was a mortuary at one time) with a small old fireplace, ancient wall cabinets, old dado panelling and an old bench. There are some fine settles throughout the pub. The car park is across the busy A431 road.
Full Description
On the left is the lounge bar with a flagstone floor, old, possibly Victorian bar counter, the bar-back fitting is unusual as the cupboards forming the bottom section are actually the main access to the ground floor cellar and at less than three feet high are a health and safety matter says the manager. The top half of the bar back looks modern. There are small settles either side of the small old fireplace and there is a small leaded glass panel above the right-hand part of the seating. Off the lounge are small dining rooms to the rear left and right, brought into use in recent years.
Through a latch door and small passage to the right is the public bar with a flagstone floor, another old, possibly Victorian bar counter with the set of four cash register handpumps dispensing Butcombe Bitter and real cider. The small room has old Victorian bar back shelves, ancient range fireplace, old dado panelling, and fixed seating. Though a doorway to the right is another small flagstone floor (which was a mortuary at one time) with a small old fireplace, ancient wall cabinets, old dado panelling and an old bench. There are some fine settles throughout the pub. The car park is across the busy A431 road.
