For well over a century, it’s served the people of Walney, but visitors shouldn’t be fooled by its age when they head to The Crown.

The ever-popular establishment in North Scale is very much a modern pub these days and its owners make a big effort to keep it up with the times and keep the punters coming in.

The Crown was originally constructed in 1865 and for a long time was the favoured watering hole for ship workers at Vickers.

The Mail:

The clientele is a little more diverse these day - although it’s surely still popular with those working for BAE Systems - and everyone on the island was delighted to see it open its doors again with the easing of lockdown earlier in the month.

Owned by Robinsons Brewery, it has been run by landlords Michael and Marie Elliott for the last 15 years, with their daughter Sophie playing a big part on the management side of things herself.

The Mail:

They are ably supported by staff members Jonathan, Stacey, Simon, Sam, Megan and Jonny, who have all helped the pub adapt to the new Government guidelines for social distancing when they reopened on July 4.

It has been dragged into the 21st Century during the Elliotts’ time behind the bar, with Marie Elliott saying: “When we came in there was two separate areas - a bar and food side - but obviously now we’ve got an open plan, which is better for us.

“The kitchen is now downstairs as well - that came down last year - and that has worked out better for us as well.”

Having everything on the same floor is certainly an improvement for the table staff, especially as one of the main drawing points of The Crown has long been its food.

The kitchen prepares a selection of hot and cold baguettes (the cajun chicken baguette is Marie Elliott’s recommendation for a hangover cure), sizzling stir fries and all the classic pub favourites, like fish and chips, Cumberland sausage and curries.

The Mail:

Not surprisingly, the real ales are the most popular drinks at the bar, such as Robinsons’ Dizzy Blonde, while San Miguel tends to be the pick of the lagers that are on tap.

There was more call for the beer garden last weekend - after the first Saturday and Sunday following reopening proved something of a washout - and there is hope that live entertainment will soon return.

Before lockdown, the landlords liked to organise live music every now and again, with that taking place either indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather, but this is not something they are going to just rush back into.

The Mail:

The last few months have been the most challenging since the Elliotts took charge and despite being closed during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, they still needed to keep things ticking over.

Marie Elliott said: “It was challenging at the start, but it was nice to just relax and chill for a bit. We were still her every day, though, keeping on top of the cleanliness, freshening everywhere up and painting so we were ready to go.”