Update on Half Moon pub

[Dulwich Raider]

The Half Moon, Herne Hill to remain closed for 'years', two others in the area also closed, and another under licence review.

Hands off our pubs!

I wrote a post for Deserter:

http://deserter.co.uk/2014/10/pubwatch-herne-hill-dulwich/

TDR

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Moved to London/SE forum - will be more obvious there.

 

[ska invita]

Thanks for the update...really interesting...I didnt realise Dulwich Estates has such control over these properties. I worked in the Dulwich Oddbins for a spell and supposedly we werent allowed to sell beer cans at the order The Estate who thought it would bring down the tone of the area! Might have been a rumour that...

I had no idea about the Dog closing. I only go there once, maybe twice a year, but if anywhere needs to remain exactly as it is on the groundfloor and patio and beer garden its that pub. Its somewhere I take relatives to if they are visiting town.Fingers crossed - its an amazing pub.

I used to go to the Harvester a lot more often - it was often busy, often a wait, so even though it wasnt uncommon for people to run off without paying for their meals it must have been a profitable concern. I was worried when it stopped being a Harvester and turned into the Grove, or whatever it was just before it shut. Felt like something was up...

As to the Half Moon I always thought the rear function room/music venue could have been better, and if anything the way to go would be to turn that into an even better live venue than it was before. Herne Hill does not need another gastropub.

And surely two incidents isnt enough to close a pub is it?
Sad news all round really

 

[ska invita]

Not that far from the Dulwich Borders here in Forest Hill the Capitol - that massive ex-cinema turned Weatherspoons - is also due to shut

http://www.se23.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=10217&page=last
We have a few pubs in FH but it had its place as it is a Spoons so...
Though if by some miracle it does turn back into a cinema that would be amazing

*Ah an update:
"This post started after The Capitol manager informed the staff that the pub was going to close and become a cinema.
As previously posted, negotiations have stalled due to problems with English Heritage and Lewisham Council.
As they are unable to sell their lease, Wetherspoons are keeping The Capitol open for the foreseeable future but it depends what other offers they may get for the lease.
Wetherspoons will not confirm any of this officially but my source is very reliable."

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

As to the Half Moon I always thought the rear function room/music venue could have been better, and if anything the way to go would be to turn that into an even better live venue than it was before. Herne Hill does not need another gastropub.

Had you been there recently before it shut? The last landlord had actually had the back room done up at presumably now completely wasted expense. Agree on the gastropub - TBF it was drifting gastropub-wards anyway but I fear it'll be full Florence/Regent if it ever does open again.

 

[ska invita]

Ah no, last time i went in I just sat in the front bar - hadnt been in the back room in yeeeaaars
Memorable visit as someone came up and tried to sell me a News Line http://www.wrp.org.uk (bought one too)

 

[oryx]

Can't believe the Crown & Greyhound has closed!

‘It’s class war,’ said a friend, matter of factly, and try as I might it’s hard to argue against this conclusion. Are they actually trying to discourage the use of pubs, like some modern-day temperance movement? Or cleanse the area of pub-goers?

I would not have thought the C & G (never heard it referred to as The Dog) would have been a problem in the class war sense! Half the clientele look like minor royals and the bar staff could quite feasibly be Dulwich College old boys on a gap yah. That, and its priciness, are its only drawbacks - it's a really lovely pub with a lot of character.

Me & other half frequented it quite a bit until recently but had noticed its closure on driving by - thought it was just a minor refurb/building maintenance. One of the star attractions of the C & G is the amazing Victorian interior, all dark wood and glass. If that doesn't survive the refurb it's an aesthetic crime.

 

[ska invita]

Can't believe the Crown & Greyhound has closed!

I would not have thought the C & G (never heard it referred to as The Dog) would have been a problem in the class war sense! Half the clientele look like minor royals and the bar staff could quite feasibly be Dulwich College old boys on a gap yah. That, and its priciness, are its only drawbacks - it's a really lovely pub with a lot of character.

Me & other half frequented it quite a bit until recently but had noticed its closure on driving by - thought it was just a minor refurb/building maintenance. One of the star attractions of the C & G is the amazing Victorian interior, all dark wood and glass. If that doesn't survive the refurb it's an aesthetic crime.

it worries me. okay so they want to turn upstairs into a hotel, fine, but downstairs is untouchable - what could you possibly change? And the refurb wont be finished till 2016! Thats a lot of refurb. If theyre not touching downstairs then why close for nearly two years? Doesnt sound good...

Yes its called the Dog...but only by dulwich villageres. I only know as i worked in the oddbins next door (practically as a bouncer as dulwich was getting raided regularly by kids from brixton at that time)

Theres almost nothing about the refurb on the website - just adds to the worry - but there is this great bit which links to your minor royals comment:

"Affectionately known as the Dog, The Crown and Greyhound in Dulwich Village is a warm and welcoming oasis away from the fast lane of London life. The pub was once two: in the olden days the Crown served the gentry, while the Greyhound housed the labourers. Today there's no such nonsense; the whole community comes together under one roof etc..."

The whole community being Gentry and a couple of labourers
Great pub though

 

[oryx]

The whole community being Gentry and a couple of labourers

They've probably mistaken us for the labourers as we don't have a Labrador/head to toe Jack Wills/straw panamas/red trousers/a Georgian house in Dulwich Village (insert other appropriate upper middle class bingo stereotype ).

On the potential loss of the interior - I share your worry.

 

[ska invita]

Its a grade II listed building and id expect that maybe hte interior is part of that? Ive no idea tbh how it works.
here are some pics anyway:

tbf the little rooms down here through the arch are a bit weird but people seem to sit in them anyway

 

[ska invita]

Two men in search of the best bar in South London, and therefore, the world.
http://deserter.co.uk/2014/10/the-best-bar-in-the-world/

good one

 

[Onket]

"Affectionately known as the Dog, The Crown and Greyhound in Dulwich Village is a warm and welcoming oasis away from the fast lane of London life. The pub was once two: in the olden days the Crown served the gentry, while the Greyhound housed the labourers. Today there's no such nonsense; the whole community comes together under one roof etc..."

The whole community being Gentry and a couple of labourers
Great pub though

I've been to that pub with Dan U. Further proof (as if any was needed!) of the toff being such a toff.

 

[Sea Star]

Ah no, last time i went in I just sat in the front bar - hadnt been in the back room in yeeeaaars
Memorable visit as someone came up and tried to sell me a News Line http://www.wrp.org.uk (bought one too)

I didn't even know it had a back room!!!

 

[el-ahrairah]

i used to work in lewisham and get the bus back to brixton and i'd regularly get off in dulwich and have a quiet pint at the greyhound because the interior was just so wonderful. anyone ripping them out should be fucking kneecapped.

 

[el-ahrairah]

ditto the half moon interior. it's not as lovely as the greyhound but it's still a beaut.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I didn't even know it had a back room!!!

The old landlady never used to bother with it at all, so it was completely unused for quite a few years (to be fair to her she managed to open the pub in a day last time it was flooded, so she still wins overall). The last couple of landlords had got it open again though.

 

[Thaw]

The little bar out the back is child-free (The last time I was there anyway) which is v welcome given how the main bar gets so full of buggies during the day.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

The little bar out the back is child-free (The last time I was there anyway) which is v welcome given how the main bar gets so full of buggies during the day.

The front is child-free too. And adult free.

 

[Thaw]

Popular with builders now I suppose

 

[Onket]

Working class.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

In tangentially Half Moon related news, the old bloke selling the Young Socialist papers is here in the Albert. Good to see the commitment isn't wavering.

 

[Onket]

News Line?

They were in Brixton the other day, Tuesday I think.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Yeah that's the one. Used to be a regular half moon feature.

 

[Dulwich Raider]

Hi,

I have updated my piece about Herne Hill from last year.

It now includes updates on the Half Moon and the evictions on Railton Road.

[deserter.co.uk]

TDR

 

[editor]

Sad to see the pub still closed and now 'protected by live in guardians'.

 

[snowy_again]

But you'll remember on the Brixton forum (and on the Herne Hill Forum) that there's new negotiations under way.

 

[friendofdorothy]

But you'll remember on the Brixton forum (and on the Herne Hill Forum) that there's new negotiations under way.

any news? I really miss that place and seeing all the regulars in there.

If only I could win the lottery, I'd buy it and run it as my fantasy pub. (must buy a ticket...)