I visited a 700-year-old pub in the city that felt stepping into a fairytale village

I often find myself conflicted between supporting the preservation of history and culture in towns and the makeover of these areas with a fresher and modern look to appeal to wider audiences. Sometimes (very rarely) businesses can beautifully blend both the old and the new.

In this circumstance, my local pub, which is over 700 years old, has now been given a trendy makeover with a beer garden that makes you feel like you have stepped into a fairytale village. Where, you may ask? Croydon. I have lived in the London borough of culture my entire life, and despite the stigma, Croydon is bursting with life and light (if you go to the right places). Nestled behind Surrey Street's declining food and clothing market is The Dog, formerly known as the Dog & Bull, which I never paid attention to... until now.

As a local, I haven't been bothered about visiting different pubs and bars in Croydon. The giant Boxpark, with music and a massive television, has always been the perfect choice for a quick drink or a meetup with friends. However, not all residents have the same mentality.

Rising TikTok star Rhys Stroulger is making it his mission to expose the hidden gems in Croydon that people must visit, and in his recent instalment, he visited Croydon's oldest pub, The Dog. This 18th-century pub, inside a Grade II-listed building, has a history dating back to 1276 under various names.

The pub boasts an "ornate bar designed by the legendary engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel", and the venue has even welcomed members of the royal family. Notably, Prince Charles visited the Dog & Bull in 1994, where he met with stallholders at the adjacent market.

Despite its iconic history, the pub only welcomed a few locals every day. Personally, I never really noticed it despite getting my nails done next door every month, so when I saw Rhys' video, I was pleasantly surprised to see it brimming with potential.

The pub closed for a £125,000 makeover in March 2025 and saw its anticipated reopening two weeks ago, perfectly blending the old and the new.

When I walked in, I immediately noticed the archaic island bar, which was designed by Brunel, then I looked up and was greeted by a portrait of 'the King of Croydon' – Stormzy – who watches over the entire space.

I arrived around 8:30pm, and inside, there were only five people drinking around the bar. My friend and I were greeted by two of the friendly yet diverse staff members who served us.

The drinks were not the cheapest, but for London, they were reasonable; I grabbed a pint of shandy for £6.10, whilst my friend ordered a cider for £7.50.

The inside of the pub was very intimate and small; I would dread to enter on a busy day, but luckily, the star of the show was waiting for us on the outside. We headed down to the beer garden, also known as The Wilderness.

Stepping into the beer garden felt like stepping into a magical modern-day fairytale village. It felt almost dystopian sitting in this pretty garden, knowing you're in Croydon.

The beer garden was decorated with beautiful green shrubs and fairy lights. Several colourful benches were placed throughout the space, and a large flat-screen projector played football.

Around the edges of the garden were stunning huts with large tables, benches with cushions, large mirrors, and glorious heaters (and for those who get cold quickly, like myself, this was definitely my favourite part). Plotted in the area was a mini lamppost with a warm light that made you feel as if you were in an old village.

Due to its tropical and vibrant colours, the vibe was almost like a rooftop bar despite being in a garden. There are two outside bars in the space, but you can also order drinks via a QR code placed on the table. Unfortunately, the pub does not sell food but offers events throughout the summer months with DJs and other musical guests.

My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed our time with him, stating, "This might be the new summer vibe."

The Dog currently has 3.6 stars on TripAdvisor, one person who visited shared: "Always a great evening drinking in the garden at The Dog & Bull. We’ve been using it since before COVID, and it’s always a pleasure to sit in the lovely garden. Always a good post-work crowd in there and a good atmosphere."

Another person stated: "Our favourite pub in Croydon. Being local, it’s wonderful to have this place on our doorstep to pop into throughout the year, but especially during the summer with their fantastic beer garden. It’s a huge sun trap and we’ve spent many a happy summer’s evening there.

"With it being on Surrey Street, you have the best that Croydon had to offer - the hustle and bustle of the market dating back to the 1600’s and the Dog and Bull dating back to a similar era. The people who work there who will always make you feel very welcome. Thanks guys!"

When speaking to a staff member who has worked at the pub for over five years, they shared: "The makeover is great, and it is great to see new faces enter the pub as well as having our regulars. But some people are mad at the name change."

According to Inside Croydon, pub culture expert Mark Dodds, a member of the national executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, criticised the changes to the name.

He said: "Seriously. What’s going on in the mind of anyone having a look at this and thinking: ‘That definitely has to go’? Let alone [in] a Grade II-listed building. And decide to drop Bull from the name?

The Dog was formerly owned by Youngs but was bought by Punch Pubs' sister company, Laine. Despite the criticism of the change being a "gratuitous assault on tradition, sense of place, pride in our built environment, culture, and planning law," the pub has been largely welcomed by locals.

I, for one, appreciate the company's blend of the old and new while investing in the heart of Croydon so it can become joyful again, as we once knew it.