The Crown Inn is a beautiful, historic pub located in the scenic village of Broughton, near Huntingdon.

It wasn’t just the picturesque scenery that drew me to this quintessential English pub, but its offering of traditional British cuisine.

Walking in, you’re met with the same traditional interior you’d expect from the outside. There’s nothing more disappointing than seeing a stunning historic pub and walking in to find it modern and sanitised. The Crown Inn delivers a real country pub experience that is enough to make any visitor (especially tourist) swoon.

The bar had a modest selection of beer that didn’t particularly excite me, but one saving grace was a tap of Erdinger – a refreshing Germanic wheat beer with a lovely cloudy colour and bold flavour.

Looking at the menu, prices were in the mid-range category, suggesting a reassuring level of quality to come. All the British classics were there, from steak, fish and chips, beef cheeks, and pork belly, to a chicken bhuna curry.

Starters

My guest and I decided to split the crab cake starter. Made with lime, sesame, and pickled slaw, it was a beautifully presented dish with the slaw adding a lovely purple colour. The crab cake was light, crispy, and delicious, with the lime lighting up my taste buds with a pop of zest.

Mains

Both my guests ordered the chicken bhuna with wild rice, flatbread, and mango chutney. In the chaos of our chatter, we forgot to take a photograph, but my initial thought was how pitifully small the portion was. Both curries were well-received by my guests, who commented on its lovely flavour, but for nearly £18, I couldn’t help but feel that I would have been disappointed (and hungry) if I had ordered it myself.

I was hoping to catch one of their infamous pies but it was unfortunately not on the specials board that evening. Instead, I opted for their slow-cooked pork belly. It was served with walnut, fennel, pickled red cabbage salad, and a blackberry jus (with whole blackberries).

The pork was absolutely out of this world. It had a unique softness, likely due to the slow-cooking process, and a perfectly crunchy crackling that really brought it to life. The blackberry jus added a confident berry flavour, giving a sweet dimension to an otherwise savoury dish. The pickled red cabbage was as delicious as it was colourful, making for a plate of exciting flavours at every turn. I was a little disappointed that the dish lacked any carbohydrate, especially considering the other mains included them and were mostly cheaper. This made it feel like an unbalanced meal and required you to order chips from the “On The Side” menu, which didn’t feel like a great fit.

Cheese Board

We ended with a lovely cheeseboard containing a selection of British classics, including Sussex Brie, British Blue, and Rachel Goats’ Cheese. Each cheese was a revelation of flavour and texture, truly showcasing the best of Britain, with the brie being the standout favourite. Four slate-shaped crackers and some sort of biscuit crackers were provided, but this felt inadequate for the amount of cheese, leaving us with about half our cheese without a canvas.

A slice of English paradise

The Crown Inn is an enchanting pub that perfectly captures the quintessential British experience. Set within an idyllic village, its concise menu of well-executed British classics is as captivating as its surroundings. While portion sizes might be a consideration for some, the delicious dining experience makes for an evening that is truly unforgettable.

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