Pub Heritage Crown Inn
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Kent - Groombridge
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed Status: II*
Groombridge HillGroombridge
TN3 9QH
Tel: (01892) 864742
Email: crown.inn.groombridge@gmail.com
Website http://www.thecrowngroombridge.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheCrownGroombridge
Real Ale: Yes
Lunchtime Meals: Yes
Evening Meals: Yes
Nearby Station: Groombridge
Station Distance: 650m
Public Transport: Near Railway Station (Groombridge) and Bus Stop
Bus: Yes
View on: Whatpub
Behind the red-brick and tile-hung frontage, lies a mid/late seventeenth-century timber-framed building. The entrance is up steps into what was the lobby to a three-room pub a century ago: inside, the lobby window on the left then led to a public bar while on the right was a small snug (still very evident), and beyond that a further room that used to be accessed by steps from the main road. There were substantial changes in the 1980s when the cottage on the left was pressed into service for a further pub room and toilets, while another room was added on the rear right. The counter in the old public bar seems to date from the 1930s while its right-hand addition is probably from the 1980s work (also modern bar-back shelving). The most striking feature is the brick inglenook fireplace in the former public bar in front of which is old brick flooring. There, tucked away in the left is a ceramic plaque advertising the PRHA (People’s Refreshment House Association), founded in 1896 to lease improved pubs to promote responsible drinking.
Mid/late 17th century timber framed pub. In Victorian times the pub consisted of a panelled corridor and three rooms. The public bar on the left has a part brick, part wood floor, ancient brick inglenook fireplace with log fire. Note the PRHA plaque underneath it on the left which relates to the Public House Refreshment Association, a temperance organisation formed in 1896. The door to the public bar was originally what is now a window in a low doorway on the left of the entrance lobby. There was a partition that separated the left and right bar areas which was removed in 1980s. The door at the end of the lobby went into the original middle room which until the early 1980s had no bar. Inter-war dado panelling also on front/porch side walls - note the 1930s dado panelling on the walls continues behind the right hand new section of the counter.
The original third room on the right was accessed by the flight of stone steps on the main road (right hand side) of the pub - the door is no longer in use. The small room has old possibly inter-war (or older?) panelling, a 17th century moulded plaster cornice and there is a large old brick fireplace with an impressive fireback. The room on the rear right was brought into use in 1980s and dado fielded panelling added. The cottage next door on the left was purchased in 1980s and an additional small room created. The bar counter in the main bar looks like it is from the 1930s; the bar back shelves are mostly modern.
Full Description
The original third room on the right was accessed by the flight of stone steps on the main road (right hand side) of the pub - the door is no longer in use. The small room has old possibly inter-war (or older?) panelling, a 17th century moulded plaster cornice and there is a large old brick fireplace with an impressive fireback. The room on the rear right was brought into use in 1980s and dado fielded panelling added. The cottage next door on the left was purchased in 1980s and an additional small room created. The bar counter in the main bar looks like it is from the 1930s; the bar back shelves are mostly modern.
