Becky Percival
- Apr 8, 2022
- 3 min read

The Crown Inn at Keyford

Quenching thirsts and filling bellies since 1650!

The Crown Inn, located in Keyford, Frome dates from between 1650 and 1700. Cart drivers heading toward the Longleat estate would have made the Crown a stopping point to water their horses and probably availed themselves of liquid refreshment too! Since taking over in May 2021, The Crown has just been refurbished by new owner and custodian, Dan.

We recently sent our intrepid reporter to The Crown at Keyford to find out what the fuss was all about. There, we met Dan, the owner and proprietor, and James, the General Manager. With over 20 years of bar and restaurant management experience each, and having worked together for 6 years running an establishment previously in Torquay, both know what it takes to run a successful restaurant and bar. We asked Dan:

What brought you to Frome?

"I moved to the Frome area in 1987 and lived and worked in numerous villages in the area until 1999. Throughout that time I’d been renovating old buildings, converting churches, chapels, mills and even a bake house. In 2001 I opened a bar in Torquay with my good friend James, but after 6 years of that decided to change my life and move to Valencia, Spain, where I stayed for 5 years, met my wife and retuned to Frome via a spell in London in 2015."

"My love of renovating old buildings and designing new ones drew me to the Crown along with James’ insistence on a return to hospitality. I bought the pub in May 2021 and following a 4 month refurb, opened in the October. We’ve just done our first 6 months of trade and couldn’t be happier."

Recently refurbished, the pub and restaurant has a spacious beer garden to enjoy a drink in the sunshine, a comfortable lounge bar and dining area, plus a cosy snug for a more intimate setting.

You can expect a warm welcome from the friendly front-of-house staff, and talented bar team.

Highly recommended are proprietor Dan’s award-winning cocktails!

What can you expect to find in The Crown?

"The Crown is a great mix of old and new Frome. Great food, beers, wines and serious cocktails with some very happy staff giving great service. It’s all about the experience!

Frome is a truly fantastic place to live and work. Drastically different to when I first arrived in the 80s. But the key to Frome being such a cool town is the mix of new and old.

Many thanks to all our regular customers who make the job such a pleasure."

Do you have any special offers for our readers?

"Whilst we’ll never be an offers led establishment, we do want to get our customers trying great cocktails and consequently offer 2 classics for £12 (instead of £16)."

"We also have a fantastic traditional Sunday Roast for just £15."

Fabulous Frome enjoyed a fantastic evening at The Crown Inn last Saturday evening, enjoying great food, friendly service, fabulous cocktails, fine wine and a spirited spirits list! The food on the menu is delicious and is inspired by Dan’s wife and her heritage, serving a flavoursome and authentic Parrillada menu, using locally sourced vegetables, cheeses and meats cooked on the Uruguayan/Argentinian barbecue – the Parrilla.

The restaurant offers an intimate dining experience and if you're a steak lover, you must try the 40oz Ribeye Tomahawk to share - perfect with a delicious glass of red wine!

Please note booking is advised!

The Crown also currently have two fantastic job opportunities for people looking to join their expanding team:

JUNIOR CHEF

This Job at the Crown Inn, Frome, offers a Minimum of 28 hours per week, with more hours available if wanted. It would possibly suit a younger junior chef or an older chef who wants lees hours than a full chef role.

The role requires the successful applicant to be responsible for the Pub's busy Sunday Roast, and also to be involved with prep for the Pub's Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening menu.

The 28 hours would approximately be spread over -