Secret Drinker reviews The George & Angel in Crowland

The George & Angel felt like a pub of two halves.

Entering the main door I headed right to a bar area where, apart from two lads honing their skills on the pool table, the place was deserted.

Silence apart from the occasional thud of a cue or the click of two balls slapping together.

Not even any sign of staff behind the bar.

But it didn’t take long until the laughter broke out and I realised the action was taking place in the other side of the boozer.

Yep, through another door and I was greeted by a decent-sized gang of afternoon drinkers, smiling faces turning their attention to me.

You could instantly tell this was something of a friendly spot for locals as half the people there were sat alone at tables or on stools, but they were anything but lonely as the banter drifted fluidly among all those gathered around.

I hadn’t even ordered my drink before a few blokes around me wanted to know all about this new stranger; throwing conversation about work, the football and the perils of Lincolnshire’s roads at me in their jolly, confident manner.

Straight away it felt like a nice place to have a drink and the regulars didn’t even mock me about my choice of drink - but more of that later.

The George & Angel is a lovely-looking pub in the centre of Crowland, looking out at the iconic Trinity Bridge.

The two bar rooms were different in character but both cosy-looking enough with plenty of places to plonk yourself. There was also a decent selection of drinks at the bar.

But this day was a warm one and I fancied feeling a bit of air on my face.

The beer garden was a fake-turfed area with eight or so picnic tables, both covered and uncovered, albeit only being used by me, my mate and a couple who appeared to be getting one in before taking their drinking elsewhere as they had a carrier bag full of tins with them.

But it was nice to finally enjoy some good weather and sip my Amstel tops.

Yes, you heard me, Mr Judgy.

Amstel. Tops.

I was a bit gutted as there was Timothy Taylor’s Knowle Spring on tap, but in this heat I was gasping for something with the right amount of refreshment.

So - beer purists - whisper about me behind my back all you want. Label me sacrilegious. Gather an angry pitchfork mob or whatever you feel fit, but I’m standing by my guns here.

Read more Secret Drinker reviews here.

Adding lemonade to alcohol rarely improves a drink (I’m looking at you, spritzer and shandy people), but on this occasion it was a case of needs must - and I must say I needed my pint to hit the spot.

So thank you to the George & Angel for a warm welcome. And thank you for not mocking a tops man in his hour of desperation.

I promise I won’t make a habit of it.

GEORGE & ANGEL, NORTH STREET, CROWLAND, PE6 0EF

DECOR: A beautiful-looking, picturesque stone pub from the outside and a traditional boozer on the inside. Add in the pool table and sizeable beer garden and you had plenty of options. 3/5

DRINK: As you know, I had a pint of Amstel (ABV 4.1%) tops. And very refreshing on a summer’s afternoon too. 3/5

PRICE: My pint and a large Coke cost me £6.70, which I thought was very reasonable. 4/5

ATMOSPHERE: It wasn’t peak pub time but everyone in there was jolly, welcoming and having a grand old time - isn’t that what we want in a pub? 4/5

STAFF: There was a young lady working the bar who was dutifully dealing with the queue. 3/5

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