Are you looking for a local country pub in Aldbourne near Marlborough, Lambourn and Swindon where you can really enjoy yourself with a decent pint and something to eat or maybe stay for the night? At The Crown, Aldbourne, you will find the very best of a traditional village pub with a restaurant and rooms.
The Crown is a real pub in the heart of the village of Aldbourne near Marlborough set to the border of Wiltshire and Berkshire countryside on the edge of the Marlborough Downs. The Crown, Aldbourne is a free house that serves a selection of real ales backed up with the Cask Marque accreditation and freshly prepared, locally sourced, home-cooked food. We have five bedrooms, a mixture of double and twin rooms. We have plenty of outside space; the courtyard at the rear of the pub and tables out front. The Crown is at the heart of the community, hosting quiz nights, parties, live music most weekends and special events.
At the heart of the community in Aldbourne, we have live music nights, quiz nights, and special events.
The Crown serves locally sourced home-cooked using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Lunch and dinner are available seven days a week.
We have five rooms to rent. All rooms are en-suite and equipped with fresh towels, TVs, and tea and coffee making facilities with ample free parking.
The Crown is a great place for a party – if it’s a significant birthday, a family gathering, just a few friends, or a celebration for your sports club or team.
Overlooking the village pond, in the heart of historic Aldbourne, the Crown is a gracious old English country inn, nestled in the Marlborough Downs. The Crown is a popular local pub that has a fabulous selection of draught ciders and ales, home-cooked food using locally sourced ingredients as well as letting rooms.
The pub is at the heart of the local community with a thriving regular quiz night and live music nights as well as a crib team – everything you would expect from a local.
Within easy reach of the historic Wiltshire including Avebury, Silbury Hill and Stonehenge yet just an hour from London by train, the Crown is an ideal base for a visit or a stop along the way.
Land in Aldbourne has been occupied, if not permanently settled, for around 8,000 years. Earliest occupation and usage was in the upland areas and it was not until Saxon times that the site of the present village was substantially settled. There are good assemblages of Mesolithic flints dating from around 6,000 B.C., which would seem to indicate temporary settlements over a period of time. Many Neolithic artefacts have been found to the north of the village and it is believed that there was a reasonable population for the time in this part of eastern Wiltshire. This continued into the Bronze Age and 20 round barrows top the downs in this area; they include the well-known Four Barrows. At this time there were settlements at both Upham and Woodsend. Occupation at Upper Upham continued through the Iron Age and into the Romano-British period.
The Domesday Book (1086) gives us the best picture of the community at the end of the Saxon period. Aldbourne was held by the king and had enough land for 45 plough teams, although this was not fully exploited as only 36 were being used. Of these, the tenants had 26. There were four mills in the parish and a certain amount of meadow (probably outside the parish), pasture and woodland. Over the whole estate, roughly the modern parish, the population is likely to have been between 670 and 740 people. This included the present village site, then settled to the south and southeast of the church, and what were still probably substantial settlements at Upham and Woodsend.
During the Second World War the village was home before and after D-Day to men of America’s 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. One company, in particular, became famous when the story of Easy Company was published in 1992 by author Stephen Ambrose, under the title “Band of Brothers”. The Crown Aldbourne became, effectively, the paratrooper’s home from home.
Many American veterans have maintained links with the village and in 1999 the US flag was presented to the village in recognition of the kindness shown to US soldiers. Many veterans and their families visit the village and in particular, The Crown Aldbourne. Inside the pub in the 101 Bar, there are memorabilia of those that served their country so bravely and evidence of how they made themselves at home, thousands of miles from their families.
Aldbourne is regularly visited by the Screaming Eagles World War II American soldier living history group. They recreate the look and feel of American soldiers between 1941 and 1945, portraying themselves on the 101st Airborne Division of the period, known as the “Screaming Eagles”. The group is a large team of friends with many vehicles, weapons, uniforms and equipment. As a group they focus on 506th PIR Easy Company from the 101st Airborne Division. They provide an authentic reproduction of how a unit of the 101st Airborne would have looked from 1943 to 1945.
Jake C2022-09-05Excellent Pub Went to The Crown for Sunday lunch. It was AMAZING. Fantastic quality and a proper plate full. The Staff were fantastic and very welcoming. Great selection of beers and wines. Lovely rear garden if (weather permitting) you wish to eat outside. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kim T2022-08-22Smashing Sunday Lunch Had a visit from daughter, son-in-law, and grandaughter on Sunday 21.8.22 and booked a table in the Restaurant for lunch (which is quite alien to me as I normally plonk myself down in the bar). Have to say, the service from the staff was exemplary, nothing was too much trouble. Alan, the Landlord, was in "fine fettle" and made the lunch more enjoyable. The food was excellent (never had anything other to say about the food in any event). The ambience in the Restaurant was calm and relaxed and must have rubbed off on the ebullient 2.5 year old as she behaved impeccably. Well done everyone. We will be back!!!!!!!
sally d2022-05-26A really great stay! What a lovely place to stay. Gorgeous village setting and SO dog-friendly, which is very important for us. We stayed two nights and enjoyed everything about it. A lovely twin room at the back of the pub with a great bathroom with shower. Breakfasts were perfect with fantastic coffee. Good selection of drinks and good evening menu- we had curry which was excellent. The staff were so friendly and the resident rescue- dog was sweet. We will definitely go back.
Dustyjoe2022-05-13Double booked Drove two hours bought a drink then ready to check in for our two night stay. To be told double booked and its booking.com fault. No refund on the drinks as a sorry. Managed to find a place close by The White Hart, by all accounts I had a lucky escape.
Christine J2022-04-27Perfect get away We stayed at The Crown for 2 nights with our dog Henry. Our welcome was delightful and we was made to feel at home and relaxed straightaway. Our room was spotlessly clean. The bed was so comfortable. Food outstanding. The Crown is a jewel in the centre of a lovely village. Alan and his team go out of their way to make sure your stay is the best it can be. It's a quirky old building steeped in history with beams creaky floors, if it's a country escape your looking for this is the place!! Alan makes us feel so welcome and the entertainment in the pub is excellent, only disappointment is we didn't win a wooden spoon for coming last in the pub quiz. The pub is very dog friendly Henry loved his stay too.
alan2022-04-08Family meal whilst on a break Lovely village pub, that was a popular local pub. Had a family meal for 6. The food is really good, the starters were amazing , they were so large that a couple of our party struggled to find room for mains. The staff couldn't do enough. Thoroughly recommend if in the area
Philip W2022-03-29Brilliant pub Just stayed for 1 night with my husband our daughter and son in law plus our dog. We all loved the pub..very friendly staff, food was excellent both evening meal and breakfast. Rooms very clean although en suites on the small side but still excellent value. Pub set in a lovely village, didn't even visit the other pub, we were enjoying the Crown too much ! Thoroughly recommend
Megan_barber12022-02-26Lovely weekend break Beautiful location, the friendliest staff and in my partners words ‘the best pub food I’ve had in a long while’. Will definitely be coming back for the incredible food and the warm atmosphere. Thankyou so much for your hospitality and we will see you soon
heatherbJ9787BD2022-02-20Best sandwiches of any pub in the south Probably the best sandwich lunch I have had in a pub in 40 years. The bacon and Brie was delicious and the chips both crispy, crunchy and then fluffy in the middle. Service was excellent. I’m definitely coming back even though it’s over 50 miles from home.
Ruby M2022-01-03Amazing pub, amazing staff Staff are amazing, so friendly. Alan the owner is a legend and is a credit to the place. Not sure why this has bad food ratings as the food myself and my partner had was spot on. Can’t wait to come back and I want to book a room to stay next time. Thanks to all x
