Public Houses - The Old Crown
The Old Crown Changes
The Old Crown has a long history in Penistone. The main room is 'U'-shaped with the outside door entering at the middle, looking straight on to the bar. The refurbishment of November 2010 gave the pub a new, cleaner and comfortable appearance, with new seats and carpeting. The Old Crown had been suffering for a year or two but this gave it a boost to its popularity, especially with their range of beer being more affordable than most. Their bitter is Tetley's and John Smith's and the old guest beer of Black Sheep is no longer available.
There is usually a quiet atmosphere in the daytime with the gentle buzz of conversation but the place can be quite lively on evenings. A large-screen TV usually shows a news channel in the daytime and a music channel in the evenings. Any background music does not intrude too much to hold a conversation, although the two lasses shown here have been known to make up for it by spontaneously bursting into song to risk shattering a few glasses.
The 'Back Room' function room was refurbished during 2011 and now has some tall tables. It be hired for discos, birthdays or wedding parties, etc. Overnight accommodation is also available, making it even more attractive for those big family 'dos'. New bench tables appeared outside in the spring of 2011 and have been very popular in the warmer months.
Live bands used to appear from time to time and after a long absence are now making a come-back. Storm Bringer played its last performance here before it disbanded around 2009. Now at the back end of 2011, the Old Crown is again the monthly venue for live performances, under the name of 'Back Room Live'. The new monthly schedule is being worked out and will be made public in the new year of 2012. Prospective performers can arrange thier gig by emailing: backroomlive@hotmail.co.uk, Tel 01226 766609.
A quiz machine has been installed and proves to be great fun. It draws onlookers around it to suggest the answers, just like when these machines first appeared in pubs in the 1980s. They are always a great ice-breaker. The pool table now sits at the far left side of the room instead of its intrusive 2010 location near the front-right. There's another thing which might add to the atmosphere. Theresa Mitchell, a landlady in the 1980s, says that the ghost of another former landlady sometimes appears or is heard walking about when the pub is otherwise empty. The Old Crown is an old pub and 'Mrs. Mac' is a permanent part of it.
There has been a lot of upheaval in recent times. Steve and Helen Nursey had a very long tenancy before moving around the corner in 2007 to the British Legion. In October of the same year, Kelly and Chris took over but it was not plain sailing. They tried their best but had to give up the struggle in April 2009. Then it was in limbo for much of 2009 and 2010 but settled down in 2011. Unfortunately the food side went with Kelly and Chris and never returned.
Bottom row pictures show 2008 landlord Chris having a quick smoke in the doorway and two views from the Back Room refurbishment of 2011. The pool table was put there temprarily for a pool tournament. That nice blonde lass is Emma.
Rooms to Let
The Old Crown has six rooms for people to stay in. Single rooms are £20 per night, whilst Twins and Doubles are £30 per room per night. Please note that the old phone number changed to 01226 76 6609 and you can enquire by email on: infooldcrown@aol.com.
The Old Crown has a long history in Penistone. The main room is 'U'-shaped with the outside door entering at the middle, looking straight on to the bar. The refurbishment of November 2010 gave the pub a new, cleaner and comfortable appearance, with new seats and carpeting. The Old Crown had been suffering for a year or two but this gave it a boost to its popularity, especially with their range of beer being more affordable than most. Their bitter is Tetley's and John Smith's and the old guest beer of Black Sheep is no longer available. 
