Crown and Greyhound (Dog)

[Ferrs11]

Leaving aside the pub's current reviews, at least its open, and if you want to know about the history of it have a look at the book 'The Pubs of Dulwich and Herne Hill' published last year and available in the Village Stationers in Dulwich Village. Unfortunately it does not cover East Dulwich, but it is very informative on all the ones in Herne Hill and Dulwich Village.

[DovertheRoad]

It's a grand location, a decent refurb and you'd almost feel ok paying their current food prices if the staff were actually trained and the food was more than average. The burger (?14.50) is a prime example of how diners at the Dog are helping to financially subsidise M&B's unit losses during refit /closure. The exact same burger can be had at The Phoenix, Denmark Hill for ?11.95. A difference of over 20%.

I'd add that the staff at The Phoenix are helpful, proactive, seem to know their own name, what day it is and where the menus are.

Baffling how they could get this site so wrong.

[Mick Mac]

DovertheRoad Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It's a grand location, a decent refurb and you'd

> almost feel ok paying their current food prices if

> the staff were actually trained and the food was

> more than average. The burger (?14.50) is a prime

> example of how diners at the Dog are helping to

> financially subsidise M&B's unit losses during

> refit /closure. The exact same burger can be had

> at The Phoenix, Denmark Hill for ?11.95. A

> difference of over 20%.

>

A very good example of analysing what the local demographic can afford, and shafting them. Bend over when you walk in the door.....

[JohnL]

DovertheRoad Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'd add that the staff at The Phoenix are helpful,

> proactive, seem to know their own name, what day

> it is and where the menus are.

When staff give conflicting messages it's usually a management issue in my experience.

Sounds almost like they're being told conflicting things.

[malumbu]

About a fiver for a burger and a pint in Wetherspoons. What's not to like?

[Mick Mac]

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> About a fiver for a burger and a pint in

> Wetherspoons. What's not to like?

its along walk from Dulwich Village

[DulwichFox]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> malumbu Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > About a fiver for a burger and a pint in

> > Wetherspoons. What's not to like?

>

> its along walk from Dulwich Village

You could get a cab with the money you would save.

..and not everyone lives in The Village.

If you live in East Dulwich like I do Wetherspoons is nearer.

Foxy

[Earl Aelfheah]

DovertheRoad Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It's a grand location, a decent refurb and you'd

> almost feel ok paying their current food prices if

> the staff were actually trained and the food was

> more than average. The burger (?14.50) is a prime

> example of how diners at the Dog are helping to

> financially subsidise M&B's unit losses during

> refit /closure. The exact same burger can be had

> at The Phoenix, Denmark Hill for ?11.95. A

> difference of over 20%.

>

> I'd add that the staff at The Phoenix are helpful,

> proactive, seem to know their own name, what day

> it is and where the menus are.

>

> Baffling how they could get this site so wrong.

I haven't had the food and tbh, I'm unlikely to go to the dog to eat - but for a quick drink on the way from / to the park I think it's great. Decent selection of beers - I have found the bar staff friendly and efficient.

[Robert Poste's Child]

Have they stopped doing proper fires? For me that was the big attraction as I'm not a pub-goer usually, but every time I've looked in this winter there has been no fire.

[EDOldie]

rahrahrah Wrote:

>

> I haven't had the food and tbh, I'm unlikely to go

> to the dog to eat - but for a quick drink on the

> way from / to the park I think it's great. Decent

> selection of beers - I have found the bar staff

> friendly and efficient.

Sure it was the right pub? That sounds like the EDT

[Earl Aelfheah]

Robert Poste's Child Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Have they stopped doing proper fires? For me that

> was the big attraction as I'm not a pub-goer

> usually, but every time I've looked in this winter

> there has been no fire.

That is true, I noticed it too. Shame

[Sue]

The Ivy House has real fires!

[Robert Poste's Child]

I didn't know that, Sue. Is it the kind of place you can go and feel comfortable as a lone female?

[EDOldie]

Ivy House is a proper pub, very friendly and great beer.

[Sue]

Robert Poste's Child Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I didn't know that, Sue. Is it the kind of place

> you can go and feel comfortable as a lone female?

There are very few pubs I feel comfortable going into by myself, and The Ivy House is one of them.

On the other hand I am a community shareholder in the pub and run gigs there, so I do know people there, which makes a difference.

But it's very friendly, and there are quite often women in there by themselves. Depending on the time of day there are also usually quite a few dogs, and probably children, too.

If a fire is a must, you might want to phone them first, because I don't know whether they light them all the time, however there are three rooms (front bar, ballroom and refectory) and the last time I was in there there was a fire in at least two of the rooms and possibly the third, though I didn't notice the third.

In terms of friendliness, all I can say is, I came briefly out of our Singaround (which we hold in the ballroom) on Sunday night into the front bar, because somebody was about to sing a song which always upsets me and I didn't want to listen to it, and a table of complete strangers asked me to join them (not in any kind of way that I felt awkward about it).

ETA: If you like to hide away, the refectory has some little closed off sections, some quite near the fire.

But there are also corners in both the other rooms where you could sit without being too conspicuous. The ballroom (as its name suggests) is larger, but people do sit in there by themselves as well, but it's a bit lonely when the pub is quiet!

What I would say about The Ivy House is that it's used by a real cross-section of the community, and I think it has quite a different vibe from the East Dulwich pubs.

People are quite likely to smile at you when you come in, for example!

And it does have a good range of ales, craft beers, wines etc plus tea, coffee, all the usual stuff - and food, though the food isn't served all day every day.

You can check it out here:

http://www.ivyhousenunhead.com/

[Earl Aelfheah]

The Ivy House is a great pub.

[Robert Poste's Child]

Thanks for that, Sue. When I've stopped coughing enough to get back on the bike I'll give it a try.

[Sue]

Robert Poste's Child Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thanks for that, Sue. When I've stopped coughing

> enough to get back on the bike I'll give it a try.

Get well soon, RPC.

I've got some bug as well. Lots of nasty things going around at the moment I think :(

[Robert Poste's Child]

Thanks, Sue, and you too. It's not helping my Thin January effort.

[malumbu]

I am a fan of the Ivy and have put my money into the place.

The Blythe is a better pub, has better and cheaper beer. Try it. I'd normally do a link to beer in the evening but see that Tripadvisor rates it just as high

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d5122911-Reviews-Blythe_Hill_Tavern-London_England.html

[Sue]

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I am a fan of the Ivy and have put my money into

> the place.

>

> The Blythe is a better pub, has better and cheaper

> beer. Try it. I'd normally do a link to beer in

> the evening but see that Tripadvisor rates it just

> as high

>

> https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1

> 86338-d5122911-Reviews-Blythe_Hill_Tavern-London_E

> ngland.html

Just out of interest, how does the Blythe have "better and cheaper beer"? Than what? The Dog or The Ivy House?

The Dog, I hope you mean!!

[DadOf4]

revisited C&G last week - hadn't been in a year and had heard that its got much better

No, it hasn't

Understaffed

clueless staff

uncleared tables

[TheCat]

I find its a great pub with speedy service. But only on a Monday night, about 9pm.

[malumbu]

I love the Ivy but the Blythe does have better kept and cheaper ale. I expect most pubs have better and cheaper ale than the Dog (in the past probably not).

[ed_pete]

Informative twitter thread of recent experience at Crown and Greyhound...sounds like it still pretty dire.