Review

The Rose and Crown - Shilton

Having been asked to write a review, there’s a sense of relief when it quickly becomes apparent that the venue is lovely, the welcome is sincere and warm, and the hospitality good. Shilton village provides an idyllic location. Clustered around a gentle ford, the sloping lanes of ‘the Shilton dip’ village are lined with traditional stone houses. The Rose and Crown is the quintessential village pub, outdoor tables for when the weather is good and a cosy and inviting indoor bar and dining area; its predictability – in the best possible way – making visitors feel immediately at ease.

The pub is under new ownership and began to serve food again this spring. Landlord Matt is front of house and clearly taking great care to give the pub new life.

The menu is concise and tempting, with daily changes to sandwiches and a fresh fish option from a daily delivery. When we visited, lunch had six light options alongside four traditional favourites to choose from.

For us, cool drinks and a shared dish of olives to start, the latter plump and buttery. Then my dining companion and I each had a sandwich served with chips. For me, free range ham and creamy coleslaw – generously filled but not to the extent of being unwieldly – my companion, a classic egg mayonnaise. Unhurried, we then enjoyed delicious puddings, one a variety of British berries, ripe and full of flavour, with cream and the other vanilla ice-cream. Matt takes pride in sourcing the best ingredients and this extends through to the coffee, a mellow flavoursome memory to end the meal.

Our lunch - olives and two-courses including coffee - came to just under £42 plus drinks. Dinner would be slightly more depending on choices. Children’s portions are easy at £9.50 each.

The Rose and Crown have monthly quiz nights, during the summer host Aunt Sally games and will soon be

rolling out the bbq for the summer, there are also steak nights. Whilst Shilton village is truly fortunate that Matt found them and is giving their pub a new lease of life, this gem is a stones-throw from Carterton and welcomes many people walking along the new off-road route from the town to enjoy the local real ales, where children are welcome too and there’s plenty of outdoor space.

I shall be returning to try the king prawn tempura with a glass of bubbly and hopefully catch Matt for a chat about how his Rose and Crown Shilton pub is thriving, his dedication to its success is clear to see and being enjoyed by his patrons – there’s a certain feeling to a welcoming, happy and lively pub and this place has it in spades. f

“ The Rose and Crown have monthly quiz nights, during the summer host Aunt Sally, and will soon be rolling out the bbq for the summer, there are also steak nights.”