Shepherd Neame reopens The Crown after £750k refurb
The pub group has also introduced period pump clips right down to the vintage beer mats featuring The Crown’s new logo
Independent family brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame has reopened The Crown pub in Blackheath Village, following a £750,000 transformation.
The former 16th Century coaching inn has undergone a seven-week refurbishment which has introduced a new look while also retaining its “unique” features.
The pub now features a “rich” palette of dark blues and browns, vintage-inspired floral wallpapers and fabrics on the upholstery, newly-sanded floors, imposing fireplaces and leather benches, along with Edwardian tiling.
The pub group has also introduced period pump clips right down to the vintage beer mats featuring The Crown’s new logo.
Meanwhile, a piano has also been installed in the side bar area to be used for weekly sing-a-longs and impromptu customer performances.
The outdoor seating at the front of the pub has also been refurbished. More local artistry has been employed by James Titcher of Aero Arts Graffiti who has decorated an external wall of the pub building with a quirky depiction of an off-duty royal sentry, enjoying a pint.
Additionally, Shepherd Neame has also installed a traditional swing sign featuring a crown, taking inspiration from vintage signs on display inside the group’s Old Brewery Store at its Faversham brewery.
The project has also seen a new lease of life for the first floor area, which has been crowned with the new name of the King Charles III Dining Room, as a tribute to the new King following his coronation last year.
As an “authentic” home of real ale, the pub will serve a wide selection of craft ales on draught, in glass and pewter tankards along with premium wines and spirits.
A new menu of homemade traditional bar snacks and pub classics has also been introduced, but with a contemporary twist, using the locally sourced produce.
Jonathon Swaine, managing director at Shepherd Neame, said: “This stunning refurbishment of The Crown, Blackheath, is part of Shepherd Neame’s ongoing investment in our estate.
“We have drawn on our history as Britain’s oldest brewer to bring a new look to a popular pub in a perfect part of Blackheath Village, which is a spectacular mix of old and new. We look forward to welcoming customers back in for them to admire the work we have put in over a pint.”
