The Old Crown
The third member of the town centre trio is the very comfortable Old Crown. Weekend discos
are very popular in the rear function room with its own bar. There is another
large function room upstairs for wedding parties, etc. and they do bed and breakfast accommodation for visitors to Penistone.
It is the only town centre pub to offer a range of traditional food every weekday and early evening, with some Saturday food on such as Farmers' Market days. At lunchtimes, it has a tranquil atmosphere. Not on Wednesday evenings, though, when Shaun's voice (above) echoes around the pub on quiz night. Another kind of atmosphere is that it is reputed to have a ghost. A 'Mrs. Mac' was a former landlady who sometimes makes an appearance and occasional walking sounds when the pub was otherwise empty.
Steve and Helen ran this pub for a very creditable ten years, although Helen had worked here for some seven years before that, and they proved their popularity many times over. They are to be commended on a job well done but a pub is a big commitment in anyone's life and I presume that they were ready for a more normal way of life. They have now 'retired' to their Cubley home.
The new team of Kelly and Chris took over in early October 2007. They are maintaining the pub in the same relaxed and friendly style and continue with the B & B and food. Chris is very familiar with the pub after doing a disco there for several years. He has plans for renovating the pub as best he can (and as funds allow) by re-painting it in lighter colours, sorting out the carpet, doing up the Gents and expanding the accommodation for visitors. However, the controlling brewery is a bit slippery and has twice offered funding for the Gent's toilet - but then withdrawn it.
Along with the usual beer, Guinness, lagers and all sorts of bottles, they sell real ale in the form of 'Black Sheep' from the Masham brewery in Yorkshire.
