Legend says, two pubs stood across from each other here long ago. These pubs were The Crown and The Greyhound. Now we stand before their successor the Crown & Greyhound.
The Crown & Greyhound is more than just a pub. It is a Grade II listed building. CAMRA classifies it as a pub with a regionally important historic interior. Locals affectionately call it “The Dog”. Some even call it “The Dog and Hat”.
Let’s dive into its history. The Crown and Greyhound got its name from those two earlier pubs. The Crown and The Greyhound were across the street from each other until the 1890s. The Crown was a common pub name. It showed support for the monarch. The Greyhound was linked to hunting. This fit Dulwich Village’s rural character.
The two original inns attracted different crowds. The Greyhound hosted the Dulwich Club and middle-class drinkers. The Crown was the local for agricultural workers. The Goodman family ran The Crown for many years. They are buried nearby.
By the late 1800s, urbanisation blurred the customer base. Around 1900, both inns were demolished. The current Crown & Greyhound Hotel replaced them.
Built around 1897, the Crown & Greyhound stands on The Crown’s former site. Look closely. Mosaic tilework at the left-hand entrance still reads “The Crown”. Eedle and Meyers, specialists in pub design, were the original architects. Plans included a billiards room, a skittle alley, a coffee room, and even a masonic temple room. One area was “carefully divided off for the better class of customer”. Some small bars catered to “the lower class of customer”. The Cannon Brewery Company Ltd. took over running the new pub when it opened.
The pub retains its snob screens. They have been re-sited. The ground floor is divided into four rooms. These rooms have panelling, beams, etched glazing, and a curved bar. The Crown and Greyhound’s friezes and ceiling decoration impress. It also has a Taylor Walker Heritage Inn blue plaque.
The Crown and Greyhound also has literary connections. The Greyhound pub was where the Dulwich Club held meetings. Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray were among the guests.
In 1949, the Crown and Greyhound became home to a British Poetry Society branch. Poets like Stephen Spender and Laurie Lee attended meetings here. The “Bards in the Boozer” met monthly in the 1960s. Alan Sillitoe and Ted Hughes read their poetry here.
B. S. Johnson called the Dulwich Poetry Group readings the best in London. He noted the informal atmosphere. He said the audience could meet the poets in the bar afterwards.
From 2013 until its refurbishment in 2014, The Crown and Greyhound hosted “The Goose Is Out” folk club. The Dulwich Chess Club met here on Monday nights. The pub also hosted the Dulwich Festival.
The Crown and Greyhound is an iconic South London pub. It provides a unique drinking and dining experience. It offers British seasonal ingredients. The drinks range includes cask ales, craft beers, wines, and artisan spirits. The Crown & Greyhound is a relaxed yet vibrant pub. It has an authentic interior and a beer garden.
So, raise your glass. Here’s to the Crown & Greyhound. May it continue to be a place for community and good times.