Drinks at The Old Crown: Real Ales, Wines and Cocktails
- Sebastiaan Evans
- Apr 3
- 6 min read
The Old Crown Coaching Inn is two drinking experiences in one building. The pub is a proper English local with well-kept real ales, worn flagstones, and the kind of atmosphere that only comes with 500 years of people gathering in the same room. The Wine and Cocktail Bar is something different: a beautifully tiled space overlooking the courtyard, designed for slower evenings, considered drinks, and quieter conversation.
Whether you want a pint after a walk, a cocktail before dinner, a glass of wine on a Friday night, or a nightcap by the fire, The Old Crown has a bar and a mood to match. You do not need to be staying with us or eating with us. The bars are open to everyone, and some of the best evenings here are the unplanned ones.
The Pub
The pub at The Old Crown is the heart of the building. This is where Faringdon comes to drink. It is a room with history in its walls: low beams, original stonework, and the particular warmth of a space that has served travellers and locals for centuries.
The atmosphere changes with the clock. At lunchtime, it is quiet and bright. By early evening, the regulars start to arrive. On a Friday or Saturday night, it fills with conversation, laughter, and the sound of a community that uses its local properly. If you are visiting Faringdon for the first time, a drink at the pub bar is the fastest way to feel like you belong.
Real Ales
The hand pumps at The Old Crown serve a rotating selection of real ales, with a strong focus on Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties. We believe in supporting local breweries, and you will always find something on the bar that has been brewed within 30 miles of the pub.
If you are not sure what to order, ask the bar staff. They know the ales, they know what is drinking well today, and they are happy to offer tasters before you commit. That is how a good pub works.
Draught and Bottled Beers
Alongside the real ales, we serve a selection of draught lagers, craft beers, and bottled options for those who prefer something lighter or more familiar. The range is chosen to complement the ales rather than compete with them.
Cider and Perry
We keep a small but well-chosen selection of ciders, including options from Oxfordshire and the West Country. In summer, a proper cider in the courtyard is hard to beat.
JJ's Wine and Cocktail Bar
Adjoining the pub is JJ's Wine and Cocktail Bar, and the difference between the two is deliberate. This is a beautifully tiled space with views onto The Old Crown's historic courtyard. The lighting is softer, the pace is slower, and the drinks are more considered. It is the kind of bar where you settle into a seat and stay for the evening.
The Wine and Cocktail Bar was designed as a complement to the pub, not a replacement for it. If the pub is where you go for a quick pint and a chat with the locals, the cocktail bar is where you go for a date night, a celebration, or an evening when you want to take your time over something well-made.
Cocktails
The cocktail menu at The Old Crown balances classic recipes with seasonal specials. The classics are done properly: a well-balanced Negroni, a clean Espresso Martini, a sharp Margarita. The seasonal specials use fresh ingredients and change throughout the year to reflect what is available.
If you have a favourite cocktail that is not on the list, just ask. The bar team is happy to make anything within reason, and they enjoy the challenge.
Wine
The wine list is curated to work as well with a bar snack as with a full dinner. It covers the major European regions alongside carefully chosen bottles from the New World, with enough variety to satisfy wine enthusiasts without overwhelming anyone who just wants a good glass of red.
Gin
The back bar stocks a well-curated gin selection, including several Oxfordshire distillers. Each gin is served with the recommended tonic and garnish to bring out its character.
Whisky and Spirits
A considered selection of whiskies, rums, brandies, and other spirits rounds out the back bar. The collection leans towards quality over quantity: every bottle is chosen because it is worth drinking, not because it fills a shelf.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
We take non-alcoholic drinks as seriously as everything else. The days of offering lime and soda as the only option for non-drinkers are long gone.
Alcohol-free beers: A rotating selection of quality AF beers and lagers
Non-alcoholic cocktails: The bar team makes full-flavoured alternatives to classic cocktails using fresh ingredients and premium syrups
Soft drinks: Locally pressed juices, premium tonics, ginger beer, and the usual selection of soft options
Tea and coffee: Available throughout the day
The Courtyard
In warmer months, the courtyard at The Old Crown becomes a third drinking space. Sheltered by the historic walls of the building, it catches the afternoon and evening sun. It is the perfect spot for a gin and tonic on a summer Friday, a glass of wine before dinner, or a pint of cider in the afternoon heat.
Two Bars, One Building: How to Choose
The beauty of The Old Crown is that you do not have to choose. Many evenings start with a pint in the pub and end with a cocktail at JJ's or vice versa. But if you want a steer:
For a quick pint after work or a walk: The pub. Order at the bar, find a seat, let the evening happen
For a Friday night with friends: Start in the pub, move to the Wine Bar as the evening progresses
For a date night: The Wine and Cocktail Bar. The lighting, the atmosphere, and the drinks list are made for it
For a celebration: The Wine and Cocktail Bar. Champagne by the glass, cocktails to order, and a space that feels like an occasion
For a nightcap after dinner: Either. A whisky in the pub or an Espresso Martini in the Wine Bar are both perfect endings
For a summer afternoon: The courtyard. Cold beer, warm sun, no agenda
For a winter evening by the fire: The pub. Log fire, real ale, and the rain outside making everything inside feel better
Drinks for Events and Private Hire
JJ's Wine and Cocktail Bar can be reserved for private events, from birthday drinks to engagement celebrations to corporate entertaining. We offer tailored drinks packages and canape menus for groups.
For weddings and larger celebrations, our drinks packages range from £22 to £60 per person, with a bespoke Platinum option designed with our sommelier. See our Weddings and Celebrations page for full details.
Practical Information
Detail | Information |
Pub opening hours | Monday to Sunday 4pm to 11pm, Friday to Sunday 12pm to midnight |
Wine Bar opening hours | Tuesday to Sunday 2pm to 11pm |
Bar snacks | Available from 12pm to 9pm. Includes olives, charcuterie boards, cheese boards, scotch eggs |
Dogs | Welcome in the pub and the wine bar |
Children | Always welcome with an adult |
Parking | Free on-site parking for all visitors |
Parking | Free on-site parking for all visitors |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book to have a drink at The Old Crown?
No. Both the pub and the Wine and Cocktail Bar are walk-in. You are always welcome to pop in for a drink without a reservation. If you are coming with a larger group (8+), it is worth calling ahead so we can arrange seating.
Is The Old Crown a good pub for real ale?
Yes. We serve a rotating selection of real ales with a focus on Oxfordshire and nearby breweries. There are always at least 3 ales on the hand pumps, and the selection changes regularly. Ask the bar staff for tasters if you are not sure what to try.
Does The Old Crown serve cocktails?
Yes. The Wine and Cocktail Bar serves a full cocktail menu including classics and seasonal specials. The bar team is also happy to make requests that are not on the menu. Cocktails are served in the Wine Bar and at the main pub.
Can I just have a drink without eating?
Absolutely. The Old Crown is a pub first. You are welcome to come for a single pint, a glass of wine, or a cocktail without ordering food. Many of our regulars come for drinks only.
Is The Old Crown a good place for an evening out in Faringdon?
It is the best place for an evening out in Faringdon. The pub offers a traditional atmosphere with real ales and conversation, while the Wine and Cocktail Bar provides a more refined option for date nights, celebrations, or a quieter drink. You can move between the two as the mood takes you.
What non-alcoholic options are available?
We take non-alcoholic drinks seriously. We stock a range of alcohol-free beers and lagers, the bar team makes full-flavoured non-alcoholic cocktails, and we serve locally pressed juices, premium tonics, and speciality soft drinks. Nobody should feel like an afterthought for choosing not to drink alcohol.
