Cricklewood's famous Crown Pub to reopen after major revamp

The landmark watering hole has been a central feature of the community since it opened in 1899, but has been closed for four years.

Now owned by AG Hotels Group, it will welcome back punters from April 30 as The Crown Pub & Grill.

The Crown in Cricklewood Broadway was built in 1899 and is Grade II listed (Image: Stephen McKay)

"We are thrilled to finally be opening the doors of The Crown Pub," said Craig Cox, general manager of The Crown Hotel, which adjoins the pub.

"London is packed with beautiful old pubs and at the Crown, it’s never been just the pint on offer, but the countless stories attached that make this pub iconic. We are working hard to give the patrons a unique and special experience that blends the vintage Victorian feel with modern amenities and style.

"The Crown Pub will perfectly combine traditional pub culture with modern flair, offering a unique and welcoming space for locals and tourists alike."

A spokesman for AG Hotels said a substantial amount of refurbishment was needed considering the pub had been shut for more than four years, but they had been careful to upgrade the interiors and infrastructure while keeping its historical legacy intact.

Designed by architects Shoebridge & Rising for The Cannon Brewery of Clerkenwell, the imposing red sandstone building replaced an earlier inn, also called The Crown.

The Crown reopens on April 30, 2023 (Image: Jim Osley)

It was a coaching tavern serving carriages travelling from Watford and St Albans into London, and from the 1880s was a terminus for the London General Omnibus Company's horse-drawn double deckers operating between Marble Arch and North London.

The Grade II listed Victorian pub became a hub for the area's thriving Irish community. In the early 1960s songwriter, Dominic Behan referenced it in his song ‘McAlpine’s Fusiliers,’ which was recorded by The Dubliners, and Dexy's Midnight Runners shot the video for their 1982 song Celtic Soul Brothers in the pub.

It boasts a one star listing in CAMRA's London Regional Inventory of Historic Pub interiors for its ornate ceiling and bar, etched glass and decorative fireplaces which remain "little altered since 1900".

The pub adjoins the four star 152-bed Crown London Hotel which boasts conference and leisure facilities.

The Grill Restaurant serving the likes of fish and chips, burgers, pizzas and steak has now been combined with the pub.

The Crown Pub and Grill is at 142-152 Cricklewood Broadway and reopens to the public on April 30.