Crown Inn in Chiltern

First Impressions, I was informed online that The Crown was open this morning, I visited to get a coffee and to have a look at how the alleged 3 Million had been spent, had to use the side door marked for ‘partners’, whatever that means? Was told that the pub was closed for another 30 minutes, so I had a quick look around . First impressions saddened me greatly, this is a lesson on how to ruin a country pub. What do I mean? The design theme is exactly what you would expect from a city centre refurbished hotel lobby, in my brief review there is of course no connection to the pubs history. This includes the fact that the new staff had no idea that I had been a customer of this pub for 37 years (a local) because the new management remove all bar one of the original greatly valued staff, well done. The only reason there is any sign of the character of the previous pub, is because it is a listed building. This refurb is pretentious and out of place, but will be great for group selfies. Boo hoo,, another great pub bites the dust.

Beautifully refurbished pub. Staff were very friendly and the food was amazing, nothing was too much trouble. Will definitely be visiting again

Newly refurbished and looks fantastic. My mum and I went together for dinner. From the moment we arrived the staff were welcoming and friendly. The food was delicious. We would absolutely go again

I never write a review of restaurants but after experiencing an excellent Sunday lunch I felt it would be remiss not to leave a review. The refurbishment of this lovely old building has been done so well and so sympathetically, furnishings and decor of a very high quality. Staff are very attentive and eager to ensure that our visit was of the standard this venue deserves and I was very impressed with their knowledge and obvious pride in their service. Excellent ! As to the food we were amazed at the quality of the meal, my roast beef in particular was melt in the mouth delicious. Looking at other plates as they were delivered to adjacent tables I could see that all the meals were of a high quality. Very rarely do I follow up a meal with a dessert but after viewing the menu I was glad that I did and thoroughly enjoyed my whole meal Very impressed.

What a fantastic experience! The Crown has been refurbished to a very high standard, it has retained the character of the original building, but the decor is stunning, modern and sophisticated. There is a lovely choice of seating areas, from the main bar/restaurant area to little hideaways and even a 12 seated private area that will be fantastic for groups or family get-togethers. There is a very large outside area that has been given the same consideration as the inside, we can’t wait for next Summer! The choice of food was great, from the classics to something a little different from the norm, we didn’t go for the classics, the “little different” was far too appealing to miss out on. I’m not usually a dessert person but I am so glad I indulged, wow! I’m not going to say which food we had, because we all had something different and all tried each others … and we were all extremely pleased. Peaking at other dishes coming out we’d try any of them, they all looked delicious. We also tried the cocktails, these have to be the best in Bucks. This is the next level in customer service, all the staff and management are keen for feedback, good or bad. You really get a sense of them wanting to be the very best and, for all their guest to have the best experience. At the end of the meal we were able to give honest feedback on any, or, all aspects of our evening. I rarely write reviews and hesitated in sharing The Crown, as I was tempted to keep it as my secret, this is definitely our new favourite place.

I have never in my life been spoken to the way a waitress did; bearing in mind I wa genuinely nothing but polite (firm, but polite). There were 2 of us that turned up at 12:15pm midweek and were told that we could get a table but that food would probably not be served until 1pm because there was a big group about to turn up. We said this was no problem and went to sit down, 15 minutes later we had no menus and no drinks order had ben taken despite me asking one waitress if she could help us as she walked past. I had to go up to the bar and wait to obtain a menu and then ask again if we could order some drinks. When they eventually bought the drinks I asked if we could order food and was told she would be 'back in a minute'. 10 minutes later nothing. I then went up to the bar and waited for a minute or so because there was no staff around. Another waitress finally came over (only 2 front of house staff working a busy lunch shift) and I asked if we could order; she said she needed to go and take another table's order and I said that was no problem but we had been waiting a little while and could she please come over as soon as possible promptly afterwards. This waitress was so incredibly rude I am still quite frankly in shock, she raised her voice asking 'excuse me how dare you' and I said 'sorry?' in surprise because I was so taken aback at her tone, she then proceeded to completely insult and berate me asking 'who do you think you are coming into my place of work' , 'don't raise your voice at me' (I never once raised my voice) 'did you not listne when you got told we could not take orders until 1pm (not what we were told, AT ALL). I did then ask what her name was so I could offer anonymous feedback directly to the restaurant rather than leaving a bad revew. However she point blank refused to give this to me, however she has 'unnatural' coloured hair, so it won't be hard to figure out which member of staff it was... She literally stormed away from me. I was shaking by this point because I was so taken aback; this waitress was the same age as me, I never once swore or raised a voice or stopped saying please and I have never in my life been spoken to like this. We actually frequently come to this pub and have noticed previously that she is quite... abrupt as a waitress, however she has never been so rude before. We will definitely not be coming back again, nor will we be recommending any of our clients, friends, or family do. I think management should be made aware of this because I cannot believe how frankly unpleasant and aggressive she was; if anyone has her as their waitress when you visit, I would recommend either leaving, or being on your absolute best behaviour - definitely do not complain if you have to wait over 30 minutes to make your order! It is important however that I note the other waitress that eventually came and took our order was apologetic, implying this had happened before, and the food when it came was delicous. Cannot fault the kitchen enough - just the service.

An absolutely fabulous lunch today at The Crown for my birthday. Loved every minute. Everything was simply amazing! The food was excellent, the service was excellent. Staff are super friendly, nothing was too much trouble. Had a great lunch here and can’t recommend this gem of a pub enough. Absolutely great! Thanks to everyone at The Crown for making it such a memorable day.

Another enjoyable visit to one of my local establishments. The staff have always been welcoming and friendly and have enjoyed coming here the last few years. My four your old always enjoys her food and particularly enjoys her puddings. As a bit of a fussy eater it’s always been a safe bet to find something she wants and demolishes the generous sized portions. A good pint of Guinness for me and enjoying the new menu.

Had lunch on 15/4/24 Short staffed so really slow service (not the staff’s fault, the one person serving bar and food was pleasant but insufficient.) Cod and chips - cod was tasteless and watery, mushy peas needed a spoon as so watery. Expensive for what I got. Lamb rump special - TINY portion of unremarkable food. Extortionately priced for what was served. Signature burger - decidedly average for the price. Side of chips - the chips were nice but TINY portion for the price. I expect more than 10 chips for 3.5 quid. Used to like the Chef and Brewer chain but with such disappointing food and prices, we will not return. The restaurant was very cobwebbed around windows and corners. Made it feel unclean.

We have been coming to the Crown for many years, and now visit once or twice a month. In its present format, it is a comfortable place to be, the staff are welcoming and efficient, and the food is usually well cooked, and portions are acceptable in size and cost. However, Chef&Brewer needs to rethink The Garden Plot Medley on the new menu; it replaces No Leaf Salad on the previous menu, which was too small. For £12.99, my wife received 4 pieces of pepper, 3 courgette rings, a couple of slices of radish and oddments. This might serve as a side salad, but certainly not as a main course. Because of my wife’s dietary requirements we shall probably visit half the number of times.

Although we were told there was a 45 minute wait for food, we decided to wait. However it was about an hour. Had large and small wines both seemed very small. Had toasted cheese sandwich with chips and salad. Salad was a few bits of wilted rocket and 4 slices of radish, oven chips that were over cooked and what looked like fried bread with cheese in the middle all very very greasy and unappetising.

Food good although not cheap, but awful experience, visited to meet friends on a Friday night for a meal. At 10.15pm given the bill (without asking) and told they shut at 10pm even though advised till 11pm. Very poor experience, won't be returning.

Returned here after a longish break and it seems it's still a good charm place to dine. Lots of seats and tables. Nicest in summer. Still has waits of more than 30 minutes from arriving and giving food order and then likely to wait even longer if you want to order a pud. Best to book for a luncheon table from about 12.15 to 12.45 as sometimes later it gets quite busy with just two staff at the bar AND serving tables. This very old Greene King inn is soon likely to be extended (mainly kitchen?) as planning consent has been given at last. Quite good for private dining parties and even wedding doos too. Hope it's a tasteful improvement. Has a long history and was once HQ for villages' Home Guard with look-outs posted to the top of church spire opposite ever alert for Nazi paratroopers. Mary Berry used to live a few minutes away in a charming house and grounds. Now gorn orf to Henley house. Maigret (actor Rupert Davies) used to live nearby and so did old Stan Holloway. Fern Britton too, plus venerable old historian, diplomat, parish clerk and postman Miles Green beside village duckpond. One surprise was when we heard an old lady being told they had no sherry to serve!

We visit regularly and this family birthday get together didn’t disappoint. Cosy atmosphere with open fire, food was lovely, (compliments to the chef) & the staff very friendly & attentive.. Thank you for looking after us x

Staff very attentive. We were a bit apprehensive about service being slow due to other reviews but that was not our experience. Food was good, what we expected, and the cost very reasonable considering the location and lovely premises. Will return, thanks to the staff who were great.

Visited here for lunch. Waited nearly 50 mins for food to arrive and had to send an item back as it wasn’t that hot. Apart from that the food was good. Been here a few times and haven’t had any problems before. Would have been a good review had it not been for the slow arrival of our food.

We had a great evening last night, the staff were fantastic and so was all of our meals. There was 15 of us and all of our food came our hot which is a fantastic achievement 👍

A group of 17 and we couldn’t have been more looked after. The food was superb, the staff can’t do enough for you, always a lovely place to go. Tracey the manager is excellent. Thank you

Just come back from an excellent evening with a group of 17 of us for a Xmas dinner. The food was fabulous, the room was very well set out so all guests could see each other and talk, and the staff were very polite and hard working. Highly recommend. Thanks for a great evening!

Visit the Crown regularly with friends. Lovely old building oozing with character. Love the efficient booking system. Super friendly staff. Lots of 'olde worldy' nooks scattered around so that you can feel very private, or part of a larger crowd. Diverse menu together with new Xmas treats and very reasonably priced. Thoroughly recommend.

Had a great evening out with the Wycombe WI at the Crown. Wonderful food, great staff. They catered for our large group very easily. Would definitely recommend and come again.

A rejuvenating experience after a big night, the crown inn breakfast filled a void that cannot go unnoticed. With the full English as the choice of weapon, a gorgeous complexion of scrummy sausages, brazy bacon, eggsalent eggs and all the other accessories to brighten up a Saturday morning. I can’t recommend enough, get down there for terrific service and a wholesome country pub type beat.

The Crown in Penn delivered an exceptional English breakfast that was nothing short of delicious. The spread was rich with flavorful components, showcasing a delightful combination of traditional favorites. The service was top-notch, exuding warmth and attentiveness, adding immensely to the overall experience. As for the Peroni beer, it was the perfect accompaniment, offering a refreshing and complementary taste that elevated the meal to perfection. A definite recommendation for those seeking a fantastic breakfast and impeccable service!

such amazing staff and such a lovely vibe, definitely recommend coming here, such a lovely place to go to, unbelievable food, staff also so friendly, definitely come here! Won’t regret

We waited nearly an hour for our roast dinners that were cold, wrong and tiny. Very disappointing. Our friends little boy who was 4 was so hungry but the time it arrived. The kids plate of food was actually the same quantity of food as the adults but the adults were on bigger plates. We wanted dessert but no menu was forthcoming so we got the bill. We then waited so long to pay we gave up and paid at the bar. The place was empty by the time we left and the girl who served us was wandering aimlessly round, not a care in the world. Absolutely terrible from start to finish, we won’t be back.

Amazing Sunday roast. Staff friendly and quick service. Had trio, turkey and rib of beef. will be back very soon!

Lovely location, great meal, and accommodating staff (modifications I requested to the meal listed) - we were served by Jake who possessed a great sense of humour and fabulous customer service skills I’d definitely highly recommend The Crown Inn .. we had my Father’s wake...

Visited for lunch with friends. We were very disappointed with both the meals and service. Food was poorly cooked and portions were very small. Service was atrocious, the lady at the bar was surly and disinterested. Atmosphere was cold and unwelcoming. Will not return.

Meal with relatives and friends in old inn. Food tasty and staff pleasant but perhaps at least one more staff needed to be on duty to cope with orders and serving. Will recommend.

My family and I had a wonderful experience here recently. Gary and James served us and they were top class. Fast, efficient and super friendly. The dinner was absolutely delicious too. My husband and I had veggie meals and they were delicious! It really beats...

Came for a bit of lunch , we were asked had we booked and we hadn’t. Have been several times and not always booked. We asked could we order some lunch and was told they would check with the chief ( there was only two...

As we were led to our table, our waiter advised us of a number of menu items that were unavailable. ( Not a good sign!) Our drinks order was taken speedily and our order taken and delivered in a very acceptable time frame by a...

Poor service, nobody behind the bar for most of the evening. People queueing to pay their bill. The food was nice but unfortunately front of house service let it down.

Start with the positives. There are different menus for Gluten free, vegan / vegetarian. Senior / small portions / Kids. Kudos to them for doing this ! First time I have ever seen seperate menus. I would've taken a photo ... but phone was flat...

Really good meal, staff was friendly. Service was good, will come again. Unfortunately we did not the name of the server

Went last Sunday, fairly busy but not packed. It all started well with quick service and nice starters. My roast was awful, the potatoes were rock solid and tasteless. The Yorkshire was sold also and was inedible. The roast overall was v dry and must...

Lovely food, friendly service and a nice big outdoor space. A very nice kids menu too, not just the usual nuggets and chips! We really enjoyed dinner here as family and will be back.

Not been here for a while but we will definitely return very soon. Our roast dinners were really good. Service impeccable.

Had Sunday lunch. Garlic mushroom starter was lovely. Roast beef was good portion with veg and large Yorkshire pudding. Rhubarb sundae was really yummy. Staff friendly and efficient. Believe that this is now a Chef and Brewer pub and would definitely go back again if...

We drove across town to eat because we know there’s always plenty of tables. No different this time saw one reserved sign but other than that the place was pretty dead. However, we were informed on arrival that they weren’t doing food for walk ups....

We went to The Crown for a repeat visit for a meal, as we always enjoy going and the welcome from the friendly staff as well as great food is always enjoyable. We had some new choices we could try as well as our old...

I would just to say thank you for a great family meal, the new menu is an improvement, complemented by friendly customer focused. Staff.

Usually really enjoy going to the Crown at Penn, but when we went as a family yesterday to have a belated birthday celebration for my husband the Service was APPALLING! Firstly, the waitress got the drinks order wrong with my husband being given a PINT...

Visited restaurant one evening, lack of atmosphere and quite cold in the room, had to keep jacket on. Food was average. Two waiting staff friendly enough but quite busy and hence not as attentive. Bar counters very wet and messy later in the evening and...

Fantastic Mothers Day lunch, we had a lovely table next to the window as requested, plenty of choice on the set menu. All the staff were welcoming and polite and the food was great. Shout out to the Manageress and her team for all their...

Visited for an early dinner/ late lunch. We were surprised how busy it was for the time of the afternoon. Food was excellent quality and the team were great all the way through.

Saturday brunch, not a thing we have done but gave it a try. The welcome was warm and the food was faultless. Definitely something we’ll do again! Special thanks to Tracy looking after us so well. Give it a try!

Just had an amazing family meal here today there was 9 of us, all the food came out together and was nice and hot. The staff were so polite could not do enough for us. We will definitely be going back there. I had the...

We popped into the Crown today on the strength of their website which promised various substantial sandwich options. When we got there it was just a main meal menu. We were hungry so we had a starter but it was a bit disappointing.

Popped in not having been before and had a great meal. The pie was tasty and my partner’s steak was perfectly cooked. Would recommend.

Just coming out from a very yummy Sunday lunch, food delicious as always but what makes this special is the service from James. We eat here often and James is consistently friendly, approachable, attentive and excellent example of brilliant customer service and makes the experience...

Absolutely great late Sunday lunch - rib of beef succulent & tender & OH had the mushroom wellington (though not a vegetarian) was equally delicious - good sized portions so no room for dessert. Loved the service provided by Bec. Thanks again for a great...

The set menu was amazing! Compliments to the chef(s) the staff were welcoming & attentive. Will definitely be visiting again through the year & highly recommend. Well done!

Came mid way through the day..got told not serving any food. Ridiculous. Checked online before setting off and nothing about no food service. Second time this has happened here and unfortunately we won’t return. I’d recommend calling this ‘restaurant’ before visiting to check they have...

This restaurant was chosen for our annual Christmas meal and my friends and I really wished that we hadn't. The pub was almost empty, yet the service was abysmal. I have a very restricted diet because of health reasons and am aware that my food...

Excellent service and excelent food for the party of 7 don’t remember the young waitress who served us but was first class plus’s Beck who organised , can’t wait till the next family gathering at the crown.

A great meal for two. My wife had the burger which was great and I have the mixed grill. Also starters, the Korean I would recommend. Overall good value and better than previous times.

Visited on Sunday, so glad we booked!! Christmas decorations looked great. Had the soup and beef from the festive menu, both were amazing and good value. The best thing about an early Christmas dinner is there’s still time to go there for another one.

Lovely Christmas meal at The Crown with work colleagues. Food was hot and delicious. Pudding was too rich for me but that's just personal taste. Staff were super friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend and would go back!

Had the most amazing time with the most amazing staff. They we're so welcoming, professiinal, attentive and helped us have a stress free celebration with our friends and family. Highly recommend.

Still on the look out for a good breakfast. Opted for the Full English. Very tasty and freshly prepared. Bacon, sausages, tomatoes, black pudding, hash brown and fried egg. Plenty of options and worth a visit.

First time going the crown and what a surprise upon entering found the atmosphere was relaxed and easy going shown to our table we got our drinks very quickly our waiter ALEX was very easy going and not in your face all the time the...

Been there before and we returned to find it still good. Long wait - over half an hour, before order was taken and people at other table waited even longer. Food was tasty and, with inflation starting to bite, the meal overall was quite expensive...

We were greeted by Jake on arrival who was a delight! He was incredibly friendly without encroaching on our family lunch. Notwithstanding that, he was always readily available when needed. Excellent customer service, thank you.

Great improvements on the main courses from previous visits and service was excellent. Range of wines is excellent and very reasonably priced. Will make sure we visit regularly going forwards.

My partner and I are regular customers to the Crown Inn.. The food is great and the staff are friendly. We was served by Jake at our recent visit. Jake provided great customer service and was a delight all round.. We be back to the...

Had a great experience tonight at The Crown in Penn, quiet night at the restaurant but atmosphere was lovely and the service was both courteous and efficient. Must try is the Seafood Katsu Curry on the specials menu but not before the baked Camembert! We...

Had a meal here last night, the food was good but the service was bad, long wait to take order n event longer inbertween courses, would try again but mention about the service before ordering.

Very accommodating for our large group of ten. Friendly and helpful staff and absolutely delicious food with generous portions.

It would have been 5star for our midweek 18:30 table if we hadn’t had our food choices reduced: no “specials”, no salmon, no chicken. Thankfully the food that was available was of high quality and the new server, Jake, did a good job (although must...

I regularly go to The Crown for food and drinks and am never disappointed. Tracy, James and Beck are all fantastic and provide consistently great and quick service every time, nothing is ever too much to ask for. My personal favourite dish is the Korean...

Great food, even better staff members! Always smiley which always makes the evening so much better! Well done to all the team!

Visited the crown inn saturday 9th April, service was very good by Lucy, who was covering many of the tables. However portion sizes have reduced and quality of steak and gammon not as good as usual . We use this restaurant on a regular basis,...

The pub is nice and allows dogs. However the food took ages to arrive and was burnt and also cold, as was the service.

Love the food good value and tastes great. We were served quickly and didn't have to waif very long for our food. The staff were very friendly too. Highly recommended

The food is excellent, Yorkshire puddings are on point! Great service but a little bit slow. Wide selection of meals!

We visited the Crown today with our 1 year old and had such a lovely time. The food was delicious (one trio of roasts, one roast beef with veg swapped out for extra potatoes!) and we all enjoyed it . The side of cauliflower cheese...

Delaying the booking due to travel issues took a brief phone call, they were happy to oblige. The greeting on arrival was genuine and the service was attentive, friendly and timely. The food was a delight, I can recommend the squid and the sea bass....

It started well, seated promptly drinks ordered quickly and food ordered not long after. Sadly it all went downhill from there. I ordered sea bass with the risotto, the risotto was undercooked and lacking liquid so was a blob of stodgy hard rice, judging by...

Old inn with charm and pleasant staff including nice manager Tracy. We had a good lunch and natter in olde worlde atmosphere. Been there before and usually very good. No quickish service but never mind. Most customers were pensioners enjoying an outing. Also popular for...

Had a Sunday evening meal with work colleauges along with a few drinks, My first visit to this pub. Pleasantly surprised at the choice of Real Ale, not the usual Greene King IPA and Abbott on. Food was hot, tasty and well presented.

We've had lunch here twice this month. Although short staffed, Jake and Beck looked after us very well. They were very friendly and helpful. My dietary needs were attended to and our meals were hot, delicious and very good value for money. The Crown is...

We can’t thank Tracy, James and the team for a well organised, well staffed and an evening of good food and drinks.

My husband and I had the most wonderful Christmas lunch here on Christmas Day. From the initial welcome right through to coffee the service and food was excellent. Tracy and her team were calm, efficient and friendly and back of house provided fabulous food that...

We did not book and despite the restaurant being I’d say a third full we were told we could eat there as larger parties were due to arrive!!! You seriously telling me that you could not serve 2 people food! Surely you ought to sell...

16 of us between the ages of 11 and 91 visited to celebrate the life of my dear Mum who passed away a year ago. Tracy and the team went above and beyond to accommodate all our individual orders for food and drink. all the...

Our family group of 14 were welcomed and looked after by the staff of the Crown Inn. We pre ordered our food which was well presented and plentiful. Everyone enjoyed their meal including the children ranging 2-7 . The children were able to play safely...

Celebrated our diamond wedding Aniversary ,staff went above and beyond to make our evening enjoyable decorating our table ,food was lovely no complaints , nice relaxed atmosphere service was very good as there were 13 of us ..would definetly recommend and will certainly be going...

Mid-week, and we expected it to be quiet, but not graveyard quiet… but that still didn’t mean service was on the ball, with a wait to order drinks, followed by over 30 minutes to deliver our starters… On the positive side, our starters of BBQ...

Just had lunch at The Crown. There were 4 of us and we ate off the lunch menu. Choice was limited, but there was something there for everyone. Service was relaxed and we ended up staying 2 hours and having all 3 courses. Food was...

Excellent meal. Great service. Will definitely be back. Bar/waiting staff very polite and efficient.

Visited to celebrate our Dad's 60th birthday. It was a great night and we really couldn't fault it! Yes, there was a slight wait for the starters but it was worth it! The Korean chicken was great along with pate and squid. The mains including...

We have been going to the Crown at Penn for decades and it has had its ups and downs. Not having visited since before COVID kicked off last Spring we decided to have a Sunday Roast there recently. I set my sights on this place...

Visited for lunch to celebrate an important birthday. Good selection of food to suit all taste, plus some surprises and interesting additions on the specials menu including the pheasant burger, which I chose, totally delicious. Prompt friendly service in a lovely historic pub, delivered at...

Another fabulous meal here at this lovely old pub today for my Birthday. Amazing lamb cutlets with a merlot gravy and a desert to die for! Great friendly staff and service in lovely cosy surroundings, a real treat!

Went to this fantastic restaurant for Jacky’s Birthday in total 8 people we were shown directly to our table drinks ordered food ordered then a fantastic evening commenced our waitress TAMSIN was happy smiling full of happiness nothing was to much for her she’s a...

Another lovely meal here at The Crown Penn. Tracy and Lois are always so welcoming. The food was delicious as always. The young chap that served our table was very efficient and friendly and came to check-in often to see if we needed anything. Definitely...

Had a fabulous Sunday Roast at the Crown Inn last weekend. The food and service were perfect. Many thanks to Tamsin who really looked after us.

The crown is one of our locals and have visited on various occasion however on this occasion it did not live up to my expectation. Booked in for lunch at 12:45, we got served fairly quickly and ordered from the lunch menu having made our...

Stopped off for a bite to eat on Saturday lunchtime - despite being very quiet we had quite a wait for our food. The ‘sharing board’ for 2 with a portion of chips was awful…wilted salad leaves, deep fried chicken with hardly any chicken in...