Chiddingfold is a picture postcard Surrey village and the Crown is on the village green opposite the church. It is well old, dating from 1285 when monks or pilgrims or maybe both would stop over on their way to Canterbury. Good Queen Bess is reputed to have whetted her whistle as a guest here and one of the ancient Edwards also pulled in for a few, leaving his retinue camped out on the village green. We also put up for the night and it was one of the nicest inns I have ever stayed at, very well and intelligently run with the customers' needs much at heart. The rooms are full of period character but have all the modern fixtures - TV, tea and coffee, trouser press (how did they manage whithout those in the middle ages?) etc. The bed was four poster but comfortably modern, the bath looked Victorian and the wardrobe seemed to be hacked from ancient oak. Wonderful - an entertaining characterful mixture.

The bar and eating area are a medieval riot with lots of ancient artifacts, stained glass and real fires. The huge fireplace in the restaurant has a royal coat of arms over it and there is an imposing tapestry on the opposite wall. Food and service are good. In the morning I arrived irritatingly just before they stopped serving breakfast and they gave me a full English without batting an eyelid - and it was good. We stayed to try the lunch menu and had an excellent roast, the beef being some of the best I have tasted for a long time, the potatoes nice and crisp and the vegetables lively. I had a look at the regular menu and there is a wide range of dishes at reasonable prices. Also the bar is bristling with real ales. We will definitley go back and stay longer. For me there is a wonderul touch that sums the place up - the public phone box is (or appears to be) an old sedan chair. Now that's jazz. Harry