Photo’s above: Fronting Crown Hills Avenue.
One of the earlier ‘out of town centre’ pubs to be built, opened on the 13th of February 1929, by the Lichfield Brewery Co. A year later it was acquired by Samuel Allsopp of Buton, who took over all of Lichfield’s 181 pubs.
The brewery lasted only until 1935 before it was closed. Allsopp’s eventually became Allied who in turn sold the property in 1994 to a pub company.
Albert Lawrence seemed to be the first licensee 1929, he was there until c1954, The Crown Hills was quite upmarket, held dances, had a tea room, many organizations would meet here. Early days 1930 The Crown Hills was visited by authorities who found a dozen glasses with alcohol in the tea room the landlord was reminded to serve tea only in that room in future. Later in 1934 Mr Lawrence would apply to have the tea room as a licensed lounge as in the summer months he would have as many as 3-400 people visiting the pub at one time.
Presently still trading as part of a tandoori restaurant called Himalaya Tandoori at Crown Hills – Chris Pyrah
photo Julia Mason (leices Past & Present)
The Crown Hills was a great pub in the early 1970’s. The landlord Tony Lee and his wife Mary were great people.
I remember tony and his wife Mary before Pat Tracey and his wife took ovet
YES TONY and MARY LEE
MY UNCLE and AUNTIE 💖💝
Tony and Mary were My UNCLE & AUNTIE . While they served I played with my cousins upstairs .GREAT MEMORIES .
I also remember their children, Jane and Billy, who were youngsters/teenagers at the time I was visiting the pub.
The Crown Hills is still very much alive as a pub. The single storey wing on the right hand side (in the picture) is Himalaya Tandoori, the pub is still the main part of the building. Yes, agreed that the Olde Worlde charm maybe gone, as we all have to move with the times, but it’s still the friendly little boozer it has always been.
Yes Rupesh, at least it survived and still the heart of the community.