Hotel review: Inspector revisits Crown & Garter in Berkshire

A return visit to the Crown & Garter in leafy and prosperous Inkpen, Berkshire. It didn’t go well several years ago and officials got angry, disputing every little criticism and threatening legal action.

It’s like a director suing a critic for calling his film a turkey.

The new owner is a local woman who owns several cafes and businesses, including a cafe in Hungerford, all under the name Honesty.

There are ten rooms at Crown & Garter, which are set around a courtyard

She made some big changes in this lovely country pub and improved the food in such a way that it is unrecognizable to what it used to be.

It’s still a shame that the entrance is at the back of such a beautiful building dating from 1640. Its red brick facade is the most beautiful element.

The main bar area has been modernized, which means goodbye to the open fire and hello to indifferent furniture, without too much inspiration on the walls.

The ten bedrooms are set around a courtyard, where there are various tables and chairs, and there is another large grassy area at the front of the pub, which must be occupied on weekends.

The inspector complained that there was not much inspiration on the walls of the pub

The new owner of the country pub has “improved the food in such a way that it is unrecognizable to what it was,” says the inspector, left, while interiors have also been revamped, right

The inspector noted that the main bar had been modernized, but with “indifferent furniture”

We’re here on a Monday and it’s quiet, but the young man who greets us is infectious bubbly.

He’s also the guy who serves us the drinks, brings our food and I dare say he helps out with the dishes.

The emphasis is on locally sourced ingredients, and it’s worth it.

The entry of Scottish eggs with mushrooms is a triumph and hat, too, to the basil-crusted rack of lamb sitting on a delicious melting potato.

All bedrooms are similar in size, although ours is the only one with a bathtub.

Not sure you want to spend more than one night here.

You feel like you are staying in a better than average motel, perhaps because the rooms are all on the ground floor and you feel that the decor can be the same.

But it’s good value for money, user-friendly, and a big improvement over the previous regime. Honestly.