The Crown Old Basing — Restaurant in Basingstoke and Deane

Disgusting attitude from management Ian, Owner at The Crown at Old Basing, responded to this review 13 Nov 2022 How many choices of meat do you want? 3 is plenty surely! No we don’t offer starters on Sundays as we are not a restaurant we are a simple village pub. Dessert wise it all depends on how busy we have been before each Sunday as lately we do run out of food very quickly. The coffee machine was unfortunately out of order due to a technical fault but had since been fixed. My staff are always very attentive to all customers and I find your comments very unfair and we always get great feedback regarding the atmosphere. If the pub itself is quiet and no customers in then yes the atmosphere won’t be there so unless you expect us to have music blaring out or the staff to do some dancing for you then I’m not really sure what else we can do. Maybe a high profile restaurant with a nightclub attached to it would be more your style. Thank you for your custom anyway.

The above is the most arrogant response I have ever heard to a bad review. Having worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years I can certainly attest that the customer is not always right but to have a public argument over a reviewing platform does not make good business sense.

This establishment does have an extremely limited menu now and does not live up to its predecessor, my advice to the owners;buck up your idea and take constructive criticism and build on your...

This pub is nestled in an idyllic Hampshire village and it's currently run by Steve and Jim. My wife and I have been there a few times since they took over the management of the pub. Their cask ale is okay and I would describe their food as pretty good pub grub.

However, we've observed their interactions with patrons and it seems these chaps still have a lot to learn about customer service and, in particular, making their customers feel welcome. They're young and have many years ahead of them to gain the necessary experience but they don't quite get how important their customers are to their business yet.

Also, Jim, a word to the wise: If you're going to publicly brag about the vast number of failing pubs that you've allegedly turned around, you first need to make sure that you understand who your audience is. Otherwise, you risk making yourself sound rather silly!

That latter comment is intended as entirely constructive advice from an old hand but Jim seems quite arrogant to us and so I suspect that it will either be dismissed outright or assertively defended.

So, in summary, okay beer, okay food and outstanding village surroundings but don't expect too much of that good old experienced...

So, we booked a table at The Crown in Old Basing for my Mothers 80 something birthday. Wow! Anyhow, parking was a bit of a trial when some customers already drinking out the front decided to comment on our parking. Anyway, in we went only to be seated on a table near the toilets, the room stank of urine. We asked if we could sit elsewhere and the deputy manager (who looked a right mess with the copious amounts of tattoos and metal in his face) said that's where we decided to put you. Anyway, we looked around and found a table, but owing to the back chat we received we decided to walk out and find a much more pleasant place to eat - The Bolton Arms, a very nice place!! My advice - if you want rudeness from the existing customers and a disgusting smelling room, a deputy manager who looks a mess then The Crown is for you, otherwise STAY AWAY FROM THERE!! DISGUSTING PLACE, SMELL...