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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Crown & Greyhound, Dulwich Village, SE21
SE21
SE21 7BJ
Pub Type
Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Crown & Greyhound
The land of the huge pubs.... once again, I say outside - the front this time - so saw little of the interior.
Dulwich is a nice place - and this was a lively area. London Pride in fine condition.
On 28th July 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Crown & Greyhound
This is a grand old pub with a very attractive facade befitting its rather upmarket location near one of the entrances to Dulwich Park. The pub clearly used to have a complex, multi-room layout, as evidenced by three front doors which take you into two bar areas and a smaller central room, much opened out these days but still retaining a feel of partitioning. The entrances are surrounded by some terrific etched glasswork, whilst inside, the period detail is enhanced by dark wall panelling and some fine stained glass pieces which looked great when stood inside on a bright, summer’s day. The servery runs through all three segments of the pub and has a lovely, curved dark wood counter, ample serving space and a pleasant bar back that fits in nicely with the pub’s traditional decor. The large front seating area offers plenty of chunky benches whilst regular tables and chairs can be found through much of the rest of the pub, including in a side room behind a fine etched glass partitioning wall, where everything looks to have been set up more for diners than drinkers. A lovely frieze runs around most of the pub and the decor, whilst fairly sparsely utilised, reflects the overall look of the pub and there were no incongruous items to spoil the attractive interior. To the rear there is a large, partly covered garden and out front there are a good many picnic benches which made for a good spot to enjoy a pint or two in the summer sun.
There were five handpulls in operation on our visit, offering Sharps Juniper Rising, Purity Ubu, Taylor Landlord, Adnams Ghost Ship and Fullers London Pride, with a few interesting keg brews alongside should none of that take your fancy. I enjoyed a well kept pint of the ghost ship, but there were mixed reviews about the quality of the Sharps. We also stopped off here for some lunch and whilst the menu is a little pricy, we found the food in general to be pretty good.
This is a very pleasant pub that has retained a lot of attractive features despite efforts to modernise and turn into a gastro pub of sorts. I felt there were enough spaces here in which the drinker might feel comfortable and whilst the pub’s upmarket appearance might not suit everyone, it certainly seems to at least serve the local community well.
On 5th November 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Crown & Greyhound
This is a splendid building with some fantastic preserved internal features, before entering, look up at the symmetrical gables where there are depictions of a crown and greyhound each side, once inside there are multiple rooms, some still divided by dark wood and leaded glass screens, etched glass around the entrance, the bar counter is curved with a decorative stained glass canopy over. The ceiling is amazingly ornate but someone for some reason has decided to paint it silver. A back room has loads of framed pictures of flora and fauna, especially butterflies. Lots of Victoriana on the walls all around and some decent chandeliers.
A great building but it isn't a great pub. Fairly busy, most people were sitting either on the front terrace or the large rear garden, not that many inside although some sort of function, birthday or something, was going on in a side area, also served by the bar which runs through. There was an absolute scrum around the curved bar in the entrance room, the bar was by no means understaffed in number but they were generally clueless. Slow, unable to add up, unable to count coins, no concept of "next" and no idea of having staff work zones to cover everyone Is it really necessary to have three people emptying the dishwasher and stacking glasses?
Four handpumps, Old Speckled Hen, Pride, London Brew Co Skyline (hand written clip) and Jaipur. "Pint of Jaipur please".... "it's off" grunted the person behind the bar, I suggested they turn the clip but it didn't happen. Opted for the Skyline, mediocre and at the astonishing price of £5.05. If I was slightly grumpy already then the grumpy slide bar now slid rapidly along to the 100% end point. Further illustration, Fish & chips are £14.95.....plus another £2.95 for "large". A medium sized pork pie or a bowl of pork scratchings are £4.95.
I'm sorry but over the top prices and perfunctory service are not a great combination for me, lovely building spoiled by poor management and useless staff.
On 16th April 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Crown & Greyhound
Set in the upmarket area of an upmarket area, this is a beautiful building housing a huge pub retaining a large amount of splendid internal decor and divisions. Apparently it was once two premises - one for the gentry and one for the labourers. There are fantastic moulded ceilings, floor to ceiling wood and glass room dividers and lots of varnished wood. Rather food focussed; turn left to scope out a seat, though many tables I noted being occupied by upper middle class couples hogging the space like an extension their living room. Five pumps with four on; Doom Bar, Pride, Hobgoblin Gold and Purity Gold (very good nick) and outrageously priced at £5.05 a pint. I really enjoyed the heritage factor here, but the thought of paying over a fiver for a mid-range ale is enough to put this one down as a ‘glad I did it once but that will do’ place. 7.5
On 1st December 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about The Crown & Greyhound
A huge unbranded M&B outlet which forms a centrepiece of Dulwich Village and well described below. Its one of M&B's better efforts, more Nicholson's than one of their Ember Inns abortions. Thanks to its landmark status it attracts custom from far and wide as well as the well heeled local community so it can get a bit ya-ya at times: avoid Sunday lunch. It's well worth a look and you might just get a pint of something that isn't Pride /Ordinary/GKIPA - though Harvey's Best is on the outer limits of this.
On 6th February 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Crown & Greyhound
The Crown and Greyhound is a large pub that was busy with an affluent early twenties crowd during my recent sunny Friday afternoon visit. There are lots of tables and chairs outside the front of the pub and at the rear there is a paved beer garden that houses a barbecue hut. Up a few steps to the rear of here is a grass covered area that houses some picnic tables.
Inside the pub there is a small public bar to the left where a few older gentlemen were propping up the bar. A larger bar is found to the right where there was a bit of a delay whilst a twenty strong group of young woman separately ordered pints of Aspalls cider. The wait gave me a chance to note the presence of a premium draught selection and the ale choice of London Pride, Harvey’s Best, Sharp’s Doom Bar and Copper dragon’s Black Gold. To the rear of the right hand bar is a dining area which leads to a conservatory at the back of the pub. I had a little look at the food menu and the gastro mains are priced around the £11 mark.
This is a comfortable enough pub and I would have no problem returning for another afternoon beer.
On 19th June 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Crown & Greyhound
There were three ales on during my midweek visit – London Pride, Deuchars IPA, and Harvey’s Best, with Sambrook’s Wandle apparently available shortly. The Harvey’s was pretty good, and at the standard sort of price of £3 per pint. Food is served all day, with the menu a little more upmarket than the usual pub grub. Such delights as “beef, mascarpone and chianti lasagne” (£7.50), and “crab and wasabi cakes with mango dip” (£4.25) were featured. Sunday roasts from £9.50 are advertised. There were some traditional offerings as well – fish (haddock), chips, and peas for £7.50. I had a pretty good homemade beefburger with chips, coleslaw and a few leaves for £7.
The pub itself is one of those classic and ornate Victorian creations. A marble-pillared portico surrounds the entrance; and inside much of the screening and etched/cut glass remains. There are also some snob screens now sited between a couple of the drinking areas, but which would have been over a bar counter in years past. There are numerous rooms, now inter-connected of course. Clues as to the original layout of the pub are given in the etched glass still in some of the doors, advertising areas such as the “Saloon”, and “Billiards Room”. There are a number of tables and chairs outside on the forecourt, as well as a garden area at the back. There’s normal seating everywhere, consisting of banquettes, normal chairs, and standard issue tables. This is a large rambling pub, of the kind so beloved of the Victorians. In fact it’s quite a comfortable pub in my view, despite its grandiose Victorian heritage. It’s worth a visit for the extravagant architecture and fittings, and with four ales on that is a definite plus.
On 13th August 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]