The Rose & Crown has recently changed back to it's original name established in 1848. It is situated in the heart of Canterbury, just on the edges of the City Wall. It is conveniently located along St Dunstans Street, the main road leading to the Westgate Towers and also just a minutes walk from Canterbury West Railway station. Just to confuse everybody, in the past eight years it has been know as the 'Tap and Spile', 'Unity Bar', 'The Blind Dog at St Dunstans' and finally 'The Swan', now returning to Rose & Crown.

We show both Sky Sports and Setanta Sports on several flat screen televisions and also on our 10 foot screen in the front bar. You can also use this huge screen to play golf or play your friends at ten-pin bowling on our Nintendo Wii. Every Friday night live music with some of the up and coming bands in Kent, and if you want to test out your own music skills we have a permanent karaoke machine installed in the back bar. Wi-fi is also available for all customers free with a drink.

If you're feeling hungry you can enjoy Papa Yum's in the restaurant area which brings a taste of Caribbean Cuisine to Canterbury which is open 12 - 19:30.

Some comments from qype.co.uk:-

1) A very pleasant surprise. Being the first pub that you find when walking from Canterbury West station, you’d normally not expect much. However, while walking back from the Cathedral and peeking in the doors of all the pubs on the way, we finally found ourselves a pub where we’d actually want to hang out. Couches in the front and back room, both cozy locations, a big bookcase of games in the back room and quick service. They had a match on when we first came in, but after that finished, they turned off the tellies and put on the music.

They also serve food from the Carribbean resto that’s behind the pub. I really wanted to try the fried plantains, but we were still full of Sunday roast.

2) This place has changed hands more times than I can remember in the last 15 years; some incarnations being better than others. It has recently been taken over by what I would call a proper landlord and landlady.

There beer is good, they have comfy sofas at the front, a real fire in the winter and two friendly cats. Best of all the staff are really welcoming. Being one of few pubs in Canterbury that still has a front and a back bar, they can have live music, karaoke and quizzes in the back bar while you chill out in front of the fire at the front.