'Like stepping into a magical modern-day fairytale village'

MY local pub, which is over 700 years old, has been given a trendy makeover with a beer garden that makes you feel like you have stepped into a fairytale village.

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I have lived in Croydon my entire life and, despite the stigma, the borough 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 and 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 meet-up 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.

It's an 18th century pub in a Grade II-listed building but it has a history dating back to 1276.

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, King Charles visited 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 I was pleasantly surprised to see it brimming with potential.

The pub closed for a £125,000 makeover in March and saw its anticipated re-opening recently perfectly blending the old and the new.