The One Crown, Watford

Apparently reopened with new ownership, this curious place has a rather basic feel, and some rather basic regulars apparent on this visit. Dark decor and a slightly random assortment of furniture doesn't contribute a great deal. Any interest in beer hasn't survived: both handpumps were badged Doom Bar but it wasn't in very good condition while the keg taps included Staropramen and Pravha but nothing else of note. No reason to return.

This was my largest disappointment of the day on my recent crawl of Watford Town centre. I was looking forward to tucking myself into the back of the saloon side with a decent pint of ale, only to walk in to find one pump with a reversed Doombar clip and the other with a role of kitchen paper on it. Hopefully I was just unlucky, but it did give the impression of another pub that has reduced focus on real ale since the pandemic.

Randomness Guide to London - One Crown entry

Randomness Guide to London - One Crown entry

Comfortable traditional pub that doesn't look very welcoming from the outside but is very pleasant when you venture in. The pub has a public / saloon set up either side of a central horseshoe bar. The public area supports a pool table and dartboard towards the back and the saloon side is in two parts, a frontal area with a flat screen tele for the sport and a quieter snug area behind. The pub also benefits from a decent garden area outback equipped with a smoking hut. The Tring Brewery Jack O' Legs was complemented by Davenports Summer Storm at the time of my visit and both were in good condition. This is not a great pub, but it is by miles the best traditional boozer within the Watford Town Centre ring road.