please empty your brain below
I often had a (non-alcoholic) drink in the Kenley Hotel whilst campaigning in the 2024 General Election. It had the most disgusting toilets I'd seen in a long time.

Regards

zin92 | 24.07.25 - 7:06 a.m. | #

This is why i l love this blog, i now have an irrational burning desire to visit the Kenley Hotel when it reopens.

This is also why i hate this blog, for having an irrational burning desire to visit a pub that i never knew or cared about until about 2 minutes ago.

Mike | 24.07.25 - 7:19 a.m. | #

I never feel so old as when I have to search instagram for opening times!

Dan | 24.07.25 - 7:24 a.m. | #

If it's a Sam Smith pub, then this could help explain why it is closed and potentially a reason for no social presence.

dg writes: it's not.

Tim M | 24.07.25 - 8:16 a.m. | #

Instagram is very good at showing me lovely pubs and restaurants that, for reasons best known to themselves, absolutely refuse to put their address anywhere. I would love to visit them but for some reason their location is not as important as a close up of a bowl of food.

Scott | Homepage | 24.07.25 - 8:17 a.m. | #

If all establishments did have a web page then unfortunately there would also be loads of places which have closed in reality but nobody has bothered to update the website to tell you and for years hence they might still be saying "Opening 9:30 - 11:30 all week".

Neil | 24.07.25 - 8:29 a.m. | #

As someone who makes almost no use of social media, I do find it frustrating that opening hours of some establishments are almost impossioble to find. My first port of call is always to look for a website. If the information is hidden elsewhere, I probably won't find it (and the business has lost my custom).

Alan S | 24.07.25 - 8:35 a.m. | #

Sadly I fear the problems of violent crime at the Whyteleafe Tavern, just up the road, which have caused it to have its licence suspended are impacting the finding of a new licensee. I am told the people responsible in Croydon, both the council and the MET, are very keen that the problem does not just change location, the Kenley Hotel being the next similar Pub and are looking at any new licensee very critically. Also a good example that it is not just economics that is causing Pubs to close down.

Keith the Kraut | 24.07.25 - 9:10 a.m. | #

It's a mystery to me too. It is a no brainer. But once they have a website, they need to keep it up to date.
Corporate pub chains with strong company-wide branding (Wetherspoons, Youngs etc..) are good at this as a lot of it seems to be centralised.

I think pubcos that don't particularly want you to know that the pubs are part of a massive chain (eg Heineken, as in this case) seem to leave it to individual venues as to whether they do on-line stuff at all. If they do, it's hit and miss whether it is accurate or not. When landlords change, they often keep ownership of any website or fail to pass on the details so you can end up with multiple sites for one pub.

The CAMRA website is a great site and usually quite accurate. It is kept up to date by their members who do it entirely voluntarily but if you find it is incorrect, you can easily contact CAMRA with an update whether you are a member or not. These are then usually implemented quickly.

MKIan | 24.07.25 - 9:21 a.m. | #

These days the listing on Google Maps is often the canonical place for opening times, temporary closures, menus, etc. Probably gets more traffic than a website would.

Google robocalls shops to check the opening times are still current, so they're fairly reliable, plus there's an weirdly large army of people voluntarily reviewing and updating everything. Who would do so much work for Google for free?

Graham | 24.07.25 - 10:37 a.m. | #

The idea of anyone, currently or in the past, wishing to stay in a hotel in Kenley is something I cannot get my mind around.

Pedantic of Purley | 24.07.25 - 11:25 a.m. | #

Being unable to find an online menu is the bane of my life!
As one who finds pubs for a lunch stop for a monthly walking group, a non-online presence loses out on the custom of potentially 25 diners - unless there is no alternative in the area, which was the case this month as the only pub available was in a remote location!

A recent pub couldn't take any bookings in person or by phone as they had no idea of the bookings for that day.
In their case all bookings must be made online through the chain's main website who pass the message on! Really??

Cornish Cockney | 24.07.25 - 12:02 p.m. | #

Some restaurants seem to wear their refusal to take bookings or publish contact details as a badge of honour, presumably on the grounds that they’re so trendy only those in the know will ever find them. Equally irritating are those that can’t be bothered to publish a menu and just have an Instagram photo of a blackboard (taken when?) instead.

Labourer | 24.07.25 - 12:56 p.m. | #

You've picked up on one of my pet hates. A lack of opening times for pubs. This same pripe also applies to restaurants and cafes, and so I bring into this a lack of menus whether online or even outside by the door. Google Maps is usually the best source now, and it does at least say when it was last updated and how.

It was less of an issue pre Covid when opening hours were more consistent, but near me there are pubs that open 7 days a week, 5 days a week, 4 days a week, and one that only opens in the summer when the weather is nice or if there's an event on locally.

Anders | 24.07.25 - 2:17 p.m. | #

I have a friend who loves around the corner from this fine old hostelry. It's been closed for months, and more's the pity. It really was quite an experience. The entertainment offered by the locals was unparalleled and the beer garden was positively bucolic.

The Revd | 24.07.25 - 3:37 p.m. | #

As a frequent business traveler, both UK and Europe, I have fallen victim to incorrect listings on Google maps more times than I can remember. Either opening times incorrect or, more likely, opening days wrong. Contrary to the post above, the inaccuracies of Google Maps is extremely frustrating.

And same as above, if no website with a menu, then very unlikely I am going to choose that restaurant, the exception being restaurants In Greece and Portugal where no website is absolutely standard and so you are left with either hoping for the best (and in these countries it is a pretty safe gamble) or looking at reviewer posted pictures of the menu.

Paul | 24.07.25 - 9:31 p.m. | #

Google Maps or the CAMRA website are often the best places to get opening times. I have no problem updating such information if it is out of date, it benefits everyone.

Facebook pages aren't a bad way for small pubs to have an online info presence. It's much cheaper than their own website. I don't understand people who refuse to open a Facebook account, you don't have to post anything.

Mikey C | 25.07.25 - 10:33 a.m. | #











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