Craig & Rose has been knocking about since 1829, and the modern range is genuinely worth a look — particularly if you love deep, period-correct colours without the top-tier price tag. With 110 colours in FiniSpec spanning an LRV range of 6.3 to 94.5, there's plenty to work with, and the heritage palette is where they shine.
The strongest families are neutrals (20 shades) and whites (16), but honestly the blues and greens are where Craig & Rose earns its keep. Payne's Grey is a cracking inky blue-grey that holds its own against far pricier alternatives — a proper alternative to a Hague Blue mood without the F&B premium. Pullman Green is a rich, slightly dusty green with real depth, lovely on a study or a panelled hallway. And Ottilie is a soft, liveable neutral that works beautifully as a whole-room colour in north-facing spaces.
Now, the honest bit. The pigment quality and colour depth are excellent for the money, but the coverage and self-levelling aren't quite at Farrow & Ball or Little Greene level. On bare or patchy walls you'll often want a proper primer underneath — Zinsser's a safe bet — and budget for a generous two coats, sometimes a third on the very dark shades. The finishes are decent rather than spectacular, so if you're after a flawless dead-flat on a feature wall, Mylands or F&B Estate Emulsion still edge it.
But for the price? It's genuinely good value. You're getting heritage character and proper pigment for noticeably less than the premium brands, and the colour library is more interesting than most high-street ranges.
Practical advice: order sample pots and paint them on a board you can move around the room across the day — Craig & Rose's deeper colours shift a fair bit with light. Prime first on anything bare, and don't skimp on the second coat. Get that right and you'll be well sorted.