Simon Bonwick sells the Crown to Dominic Chapman

Late last year, Bonwick announced he had put the highly rated Burchetts Green pub – which is currently ranked 68​​ on Restaurant by BigHospitality​​’s list of the top 100 restaurants in the UK – on the market ahead of the launch of a larger ‘more ambitious’ restaurant. ​​

“Moving on from the Crown was a natural conclusion for us as we felt we had told a story and given our all to the very idea of the Crown,” Bonwick said. “Not one hour in our time there had been easy, but so very rewarding for us all.”

Credentials crucial

He continued: “Every ounce of business was fought and grafted for so, when selling up, it had to be to the right person. It was imperative they had the credentials to run with the ball and relax into the Crown even more comfortably than we had.”

Chapman’s CV includes Berkshire’s the Fat Duck and the Hinds Head as well as London’s Kensington Place, where he cooked under Rowley Leigh. 

He is well-known in Berkshire having overseen Michael Parkinson’s the Royal Oak Paley Street for seven years before opening the Beehive, which is currently ranked as the 10th best site in the Top 50 Gastropubs list​, in White Waltham in 2014. 

Very bright future

“As chef-patron, Dominic will run [the Crown] with his family and [with their] fabulous reputation [they will] most likely exceed all our previous achievements at the Crown,” Bonwick added. “We wish him and his family all the best. We are sure he will achieve and create with it a very bright future.” 

Discussing the news, Chapman said: “We can’t wait to open and continue the journey of [the Crown]. We promise to keep it special and welcoming.”

Bonwick – who launched the Crown in 2012 – says he will announce his next project within the next few weeks.

Property agent DaveyCo acted on behalf of Bonwick for the sale of the Crown.