Crown and Greyhound (Dog)

[Mick Mac]

Fox and Firkin is still called that isn't it?

[GSJ57]

I still have a sweatshirt that says: 'Phoenix my pint...I'll firkin thump him'.

[malumbu]

And for fox's sake get me a firkin pint, we forgave them at the time because their gaffs were so good.

[GSJ57]

True - they really were good pubs.

[rendelharris]

At one point you could get a free T-shirt if you drank in twelve of their pubs - don't think it had to be in one day or a pint in each but we did try to do that once - got as far as the third and it was so nice we gave up and stayed. The staff had a good T-shirt also - "I'm a Firkin bar steward."

[The Dog]

Hello again,

Thanks for the continued feedback and engagement; it all helps to guide me in exactly where to focus my attention.

I would like to update you on some action that I'm taking to enable us to make speedy & significant strides forward. On Monday and Tuesday (17th & 18th July) we will be closing our doors until 5pm each day (opening for drinks only on Monday evening). During this time we will carry out team training with a special focus around the feedback that we've received so far.

Already in the week since my last post, I feel that the pub has improved and I believe that this will be the most effective way to drive things forward for our team and ultimately for you, our guests.

I'm sorry if you were planning a visit during the day on Monday or Tuesday but I hope you will support us in this step in making the Crown & Greyhound the very best it can be.

To confirm, opening hours:

Monday 5pm - close (drinks only)

Tuesday 5pm - close (fully open)

Many thanks

Greg

[malumbu]

Greg. I worked in pubs in the 80s. The breweries had managers who were well trained and experienced. Alternatively tenants (who leased from the brewery) would take some of the risk on themselves in taking on pubs. I have been recently to two of the pubs that used to be my favourites in London - the Royal Oak in Westminster and the Woodhouse in Sydenham Hill. In the past both would have managers for donkeys years that knew the pub, the beer and the clientele. Now they have incompetent staff and disinterested management (obviously in my opion) - both seem to change ever few months, about as frequently as the refurbs. And poor ale. Now this is the Young's former estate, so not representative of your chain. Yet both pubs are similar to the Dog in that due to their position they don't need to try to hard to get the punters.

I'm worried from your postings that you don't have the experience to run a good pub. Others will of course judge. PM if you want me to take you round a selection of pubs in the area that I consider are well run, retain some traditional feel and have loyal customers. And not in competition with you.

[JoeLeg]

Dude, that's pretty rude. I know you're trying to be helpful but come on - he's on here, admitting mistakes and telling people how he intends to fix them. He's being open to criticism and feedback. And you're questioning his ability?

That's hardly fair. Give him some time to get the job done. I'm no fan of M+B but to me he sounds like he at least wants to try and make it work. Maybe read your post again and ask yourself if that's how you meant it to come across?

[katanita]

Great to see you on here and tackling feedback Greg. I have some from a visit today that hopefully you will find useful.

Was very pleased to see the interior barely touched and looking smart. The skittles game was a nice touch outside.

But, we were astonished at the prices. My friend and I ordered a pint of Peroni and a can of Cawston Press Rhubarb, and had to double take when it came to ?10.20. When we queried it we were told that the Peroni is ?5.60 and the soft drink ?4.60! The latter I can buy for well under a pound elsewhere. I understand you may not set drinks prices, but that is extortionate for a tin of soft drink, so perhaps could feed that back to the central offices. Won't be ordering that again, and I can't imagine many would order it more than once after realising. Plus it was not cold and wasn't offered a glass/ice. Would have asked but was so stunned by the price I was a bit distracted. Put me off staying for any food.

Also it would be great if there were other alcohol free beer options than Becks Blue. Erdinger do a good one which is widely available and Nanny State is popular too.

Thanks!

[malumbu]

Not rude, offering to take him round some pubs that I rate. We've lost sight that pubs are an important part of the community, as the pub co's maximise their profits. If I was going to be rude I'd say that I didn't ever think I'd see the day that someone posted about a pub selling rhubarb juice. Now I wouldn't do that would I?

Don't take things too seriously. I'll post rude (but honest) things on proper pub review websites if I feel so obliged. And even then they will be bally funny. I'm only truly rude to posters that deserve it (or threads about artificial grass) and there are usually people more articulate than me in any case who do a better job.

Power to the people.

PS when I had my 18th in a local pub (my word they did they actuallty allow teenagers in pubs?!), the landlord had a fight with a gate crasaher. We were in awe. A fifty year old having a brawl with a 19 year old. That's when publican's knew had to handle themselves. Not sure if there are any fighting pubs left nowadays. And I thnk it was an M&B pub too.

[malumbu]

I'm on a roll now. Here is what John Betjeman wrote in 1972 - he's a poet don't you know. PRO means public relations officer. It (The Village Inn) could have been writtne today.

https://sites.google.com/site/poetrybank/home/betjeman-john

[EDOldie]

Hope this photo has come out. Saw it just now in the window of the Dog

[womanofdulwich]

I cant read it :(

[EDOldie]

I'm so useless with techy things. Hope this works

[Mick Mac]

Great that they are openly addressing the issues - good luck.

[Loz]

malumbu Wrote:

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> PM if you want me to take you round a selection of pubs in the area that I consider

> are well run, retain some traditional feel and have loyal customers. And not in competition with you.

Are they making any money, though? It's all very well having a bunch of regulars propping up the bar, but with rents these days, it's usually not enough.

[NewWave]

Respect to management for taking on board complaints and adressing them.

[Seabag]

The Dog is what it is, a pub run by a large (slightly shite) brewery chain

It's the fault of the equally shite Dulwich Estates that it's run by the chain, they knowingly put/let the group in there.

But as we know, the estate do not give a shite and they know that we know that. They also really do not care that we know that they know they don't give a shite.

So good luck to Brian or Ken or whoever will be given the job of damage limitation, they'll try and make the best of it.

The pub will always have trade because of its location. Suck it up or sod off.

[malumbu]

There are few pubs with only locals propping up the bar. They will have gone bust years ago or sold on for residential use or turned into a coffee bar or estate agents. Sadly some successful pubs have gone that way too.

Should I get the chance I would love to take Ken, Brian or whatever his name is around some successful pubs that still retain some of the things that I want out of an establishment - sense of community, good beer, reasonable prices, not beholden to the family market. There are a few left!

I was going to start off with the Woolpack in Emmerdale, then onto the Vic in Albert Square, The Rovers Return and finish with the Bull in Ambridge. The latter has a great review on Tripadvisor https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g186420-d4415022-i79934830-The_Bull-Worcestershire_England.html

[Sue]

Ha ha Malumbu.

As the Half Moon has been mentioned on this thread, just want to say that we went there on Saturday and were very impressed indeed at the quality of the refurb.

Didn't eat however so can't comment on the food.

I think it's great that the Dog is addressing its current shortcomings. Good on the Dog.

[DadOf4]

update on my marks for the crown and greyhound

Engagement 8/10 - good to see Greg engaging and doing some staff training. In fact, I even got a call from the pub manager last week (although he didn't call back when I told him I couldn't talk at that point). Still, good signs

End result 3/10 - popped in last night for a cheeky pint when out walking the dog. Pub very quiet, couple of people at the bar. I gave up after waiting 10 minutes to be served and went home

[Abe_froeman]

Sounds like it is not going to work out for you Dadof4 and both parties might be better off without you popping in again.

[edhistory]

3/10 for not getting a drink?

What sort of metric is this?

Is it a typo for 0/10?

[Sue]

edhistory Wrote:

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> 3/10 for not getting a drink?

>

> What sort of metric is this?

>

> Is it a typo for 0/10?

:))

[DulwichFox]

Perhaps they should of turned it back into 2 pubs.

Don't know the history but wasn't there once 2 pubs The Crown and The Greyhound

Were they next to each other. ? Were they pulled down and one pub built in their place.

Edhistory.. Can you shed light please ??

DulwichFox