Pub goes to the dogs... and the cats

For more than 300 years, regulars at the Crown in Nutfield have been assured of a warm welcome and a refreshing pint.

If you step inside the old pub today the welcome will be as warm but the bar snacks have been replaced with dog treats and the beer with bowls of water.

Raise a glass: Nikki Williams, Michael Taylor and their black labradors Milly and Lilly have turned the pub's old bar into their reception area.
Photo No: RSMdb190110F02 by David Berman
Transformed: Vets Nikki Williams and Michael Taylor have turned the former Crown Hotel into a veterinary practice Photo No: RSMdb190110F03

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And the familiar faces behind the bar are likely to belong to black Labradors Lilly and Milly who have taken up residence along with their owners Nikki Williams and Michael Taylor who took over the former pub and transformed it into The Crown Veterinary Practice.

Nikki, 35, said: "When we were doing up the building we did get a few people coming in and asking if we could do them some sandwiches and a pint.

"There were a couple of people who stopped on their bikes asking for a cheap pub lunch.

"But setting up here has worked out really nicely and a lot of people have said how nice it is to have vets back in the area again."

Married couple Nikki and Michael, 32, met while at university in Edinburgh and have worked together at a practice in Winchester before moving to Nikki's native Surrey six years ago.

The couple married at St Mary's Church, Bletchingly, three years ago and were looking to set up a veterinary practice together when Nikki's father Chris pointed out the pub in Nutfield's High Street.

Nikki, who went to Caterham School, said: "We'd always said 'we'll set up on our own together one day' but for the last couple of years it has been very much on our minds.

"We couldn't find anywhere with parking or where there was enough space.

"My dad had been looking around and was keeping an eye on this place. He always said it would make a good vets.

"He died last January and he didn't know we have ended up getting it but it has worked out quite nicely and I think he'd be pleased to see us up and running."

Nikki and Michael opened the practice in early January – just four months after the old pub served it's last pint – and pets can now enjoy all the Crown has to offer including x-ray equipment, ultra-sound scanning machines and dental procedures.

Nikki said: "We've already had lots of people coming in and the dogs have been keen to meet everyone."

Crown Vet Clinic will be holding an open day on Saturday February 6 from 10am-1pm. For more information, visit www.crownvets.com or call 01737 822250.