Crown Hotel & Pub

About Crown Hotel & Pub

The Crown Hotel & Pub is a genuine piece of old Geraldine — a historic hotel standing on Talbot Street in the heart of this South Canterbury town, beautifully preserved through generations and filled with vintage character. Inside it's candlelight, copper pots and a hundred years of memorabilia, with a warm seat by the fire and the easy hum of a true local. It's the kind of place built for long lunches, lively Friday nights and the welcome that, as the team puts it, turns visitors into regulars.

The kitchen keeps things simple and proper: pub classics done well, from golden fries and loaded wedges through to burgers, pizzas and big pub mains. Beer-battered fish and chips, slow cooked BBQ pork ribs, lamb shank on creamy mash, stuffed chicken breast and hearty 250g steaks anchor the menu, with small plates, shareable platters, a dedicated kids' menu and desserts to finish. Sundays belong to the Long Sunday Roast, served from midday until it's gone.

The bar is just as considered — real ales and tap staples, Guinness by the pint, a rotating cast of New Zealand craft beers, classic house pours, a deep spirits shelf and a small but considered wine list pouring The Ned, Jules Taylor and house Kopiko Bay by the glass. Non-drinkers are well covered too, with tap soft drinks, juices and a full RTD range.

There's a reason to drop in nearly every night of the week: pub quiz on Wednesdays, the local butcher's meat raffle on Thursdays, acoustic Cellar Sessions on Fridays, live bands and a DJ on Saturdays, and roasts on Sunday. Families and dogs are welcome, free WiFi keeps everyone connected, and live sport is always on. Open daily in the centre of Geraldine, with bookings taken by phone or email.

The Crown Hotel & Pub, Geraldine: Heritage Pints, Sunday Roasts and Proper Pub Food on Talbot Street

Some pubs try to manufacture character. The Crown Hotel & Pub has never needed to. Sitting on Talbot Street in the heart of Geraldine, this historic hotel has been part of the town for generations — a beloved local landmark known for its rich heritage, vintage character and warm Kiwi hospitality. Step inside and you'll find candlelight, copper pots and a century of memorabilia on the walls, a fire going, and the low hum of conversation that every good pub trades in.

The Crown's own pitch is refreshingly simple: well-kept beer, seasonal cooking, and a warm seat by the fire. It's the local for long lunches, lively Fridays and the kind of welcome that turns passing travellers into regulars — whether you've just come off the road through South Canterbury or you've lived around the corner your whole life.

The food: proper pub classics, done well

The menu runs from bar snacks to serious plates. Start with golden fries or loaded wedges, beer battered calamari or crumbed hot honey cheese bites, then move on to small plates like panfried potstickers, karaage chicken, tacos and chilli garlic butter prawns. Feeding a crowd? The Fried and Meat Platters are built for exactly that.

The burgers are a proper handful — the Crown Beef Burger stacks a homemade patty with bacon, cheese, beetroot, gherkin and egg, while crispy chicken, fish and pulled pork versions cover the rest of the bases. Pizzas range from the simple Cheesy Delight to a BBQ Meat Lovers loaded with pepperoni, kransky sausages and streaky bacon.

The mains are where the kitchen shows its pub heart: beer battered fish and chips (ask the staff for today's fish), slow cooked BBQ pork ribs, a roast lamb shank on creamy mash with homemade gravy, chicken breast stuffed with feta, spinach and corn, or a 250g porterhouse or ribeye with your choice of mushroom sauce, peppercorn or gravy. Lighter eaters get the tahini-dressed Summer Bowl, a Cajun spiced chicken salad, a classic Cobb or grilled wraps, and kids have a menu of their own. The Farmer's Breakfast — kransky, bacon, eggs and hashbrown on ciabatta — runs until 3pm. Save room for dessert: chocolate mousse, a deep fried banana split or a sundae with Oreo, Biscoff or berry toppings.

Gluten-free diners should flag it with the staff. There are GF options across the menu and one fryer is used only for food not containing gluten or wheat, though all meals are prepared in the same kitchen, so traces of allergens are possible.

The bar: real ales and a deep back bar

Beer is taken seriously here. The taps pour Speights, Summit Ultra and Steinlager Classic, Guinness by the pint, Mac's Cloudy Apple Cider, and a rotating cast of New Zealand craft beers — Panhead and Emerson's have featured — that's always worth asking about. The fridge runs deep too, from Corona and Stella Artois to hazy craft bottles and non-alcoholic options like Corona Zero and Guinness 0.0%.

Behind the bar it's classic house doubles — Gordon's, Jim Beam, Smirnoff, Red Label, Coruba — plus an extensive spirits list covering single malts, gins and everything in between, a solid liqueur shelf and a long run of bottled RTDs. Wine drinkers get a small but considered list by the glass: house Kopiko Bay pours alongside The Ned and Jules Taylor, with Lindauer sparkling in 200ml serves. Soft drinks and juices even flow from the tap.

What's on: a reason to show up every night

The weekly rhythm is part of the furniture. Wednesday is pub quiz night from 7:30pm, with a cash prize for the winning team and a bar tab for the wooden spoon. Thursday brings the meat raffle from 6pm — local butcher, seven lucky winners, tickets at the bar. Friday's Cellar Sessions put acoustic duos in the front bar from 8pm with no cover charge, and Saturday steps it up with a proper live band, the kitchen open late and a DJ afterwards. Sunday is for the Long Sunday Roast, served from midday until it's gone, complete with Yorkshire puddings the size of your fist.

Plan your visit

You'll find The Crown at 31 Talbot Street, Geraldine, right in the centre of town. The bar opens at midday daily, running to 9pm Monday through Saturday and 8pm on Sunday, and the kitchen serves from 10am until late every day. Families are welcome, dogs are welcome, there's free WiFi, and live sport is always on the screens. Bookings can be made by phone on +64 3 693 8458 or by email at divinehospo@gmail.com. Pop in for a pint or book in for a roast — as the pub itself says, it's easy to find and hard to leave.

Signature items

• Long Sunday Roast
• Beer Battered Fish and Chips
• Crown Beef Burger
• Lamb Shank
• Guinness
• BBQ Pork Ribs

Menu

Mains

• Farmer's Breakfast — Till 3pm — mushrooms, kransky, bacon, eggs, hashbrown, beans and ciabatta
• Pasta — Sauce of the day with chicken, mushroom, onion, broccoli and corn, with ciabatta
• Beer Battered Fish and Chips — Today's fish with fries, homemade slaw, tartare and lemon
• BBQ Pork Ribs — Slow cooked in BBQ sauce with wedges, slaw and sour cream. GF; half or full rack
• Crown Stuffed Chicken Breast — Filled with feta, spinach and corn; roasted veggies, mushroom sauce, fries
• Porterhouse Steak, Eggs and Fries — 250g porterhouse with two fried eggs, salad, garlic butter and a sauce
• Lamb Shank — Roast lamb on creamy mash with seasonal vegetables and homemade gravy. GF
• Ribeye Steak — 250g ribeye with creamy mash and seasonal vegetables, garlic butter; add an egg

Sides

• Plum Sauce — Side of plum sauce
• Fried Egg — Fried egg add-on
• Sour Cream / Gravy — Side of sour cream or gravy
• Mushroom / Peppercorn / Garlic Butter — Sauce or garlic butter add-on
• Streaky Bacon (2 strips) — Two strips of streaky bacon
• Roasted Veggies / Slaw / Creamy Mash — Vegetable and potato sides
• Green Salad / Grilled Mushrooms — Side of green salad or grilled mushrooms

Pizzas

• Cheesy Delight Pizza — Mozzarella, parmesan, oregano and parsley
• Farmhouse Pizza — Mozzarella, red onion, bell pepper, corn, olives and spinach
• Peri Peri Chicken Pizza — Mozzarella, bell pepper, onion, shredded chicken, peri peri swirl
• BBQ Meat Lovers — Mozzarella, pepperoni, kransky sausages, streaky bacon, BBQ swirl

Burgers

• Crown Veggie Burger — Veggie pattie, cheese, salad, relish, mayo and onion rings
• Crispy Chicken Burger — Karaage chicken, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato relish and aioli
• Fish Burger — Beer battered fish, cheese and slaw with tartare in a brioche bun
• Crown Beef Burger — Homemade patty with bacon, cheese, beetroot, gherkin, egg and BBQ
• BBQ Pulled Pork Burger — Pulled pork, cheese, slaw, gherkin and BBQ sauce on a brioche bun

Desserts

• Chocolate Mousse — Classic chocolate mousse, served with whipped cream
• Banana Split — Crispy deep fried banana roll with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce
• Ice Cream Sundae — Vanilla with chocolate & Oreo, caramel & Biscoff or berry topping

Platters

• Fried Platter — Nuggets, calamari, fish bites, prawns, onion rings, spring rolls and samosas with fries and dips
• Meat Platter — Wings, kransky sausages, beef steak slices and BBQ pork ribs with fries, slaw and gravy

Bar Snacks

• Golden Fries — Crispy fries with homemade seasoning, tomato sauce or aioli. GF
• Seasoned Wedges — Crispy wedges with sour cream and sweet chilli. GF
• Garlic Bread — Crisp baked ciabatta with garlic butter and herbs; add cheese
• Fish Bites and Chips — Battered fish bites with fries, tomato and tartare sauce
• Crumbed Hot Honey Cheese Bites — Served with a choice of aioli or plum sauce
• Crown Bar Basket — Fries, nuggets, spring rolls and samosas with dipping sauces
• Loaded Wedges — Seasoned wedges with bacon, cheese, sour cream and sweet chilli. GF
• Calamari — Beer battered calamari with lemon wedge and tartare sauce
• Ocean Basket — Fries, fish bites, squid rings and crumbed prawns with tartare

Kids Meals

• Nuggets and Fries — Four chicken nuggets with fries and tomato sauce
• Mini Hot Dog and Fries — Four mini hot dogs with seasoned fries and tomato sauce
• Nachos — Corn chips with ground beef, cheese and avocado salsa
• Ice Cream Sundae — Vanilla scoop with a chocolate stick and chocolate sauce

Beer On Tap

• Speights — Kiwi lager favourite, by 12oz, pint or jug
• Summit Ultra — Crisp NZ lager, by 12oz, pint or jug
• Steinlager Classic — Classic NZ lager, by 12oz, pint or jug
• Guinness — The iconic stout, served by the pint

Cider On Tap

• Mac's Cloudy Apple Cider — Cloudy apple cider by 12oz, pint or jug

Mixed Drinks

• Vodka Red Bull — Vodka with Red Bull
• Bacardi Red Bull — Bacardi with Red Bull
• Jägermeister Red Bull — Jägermeister with Red Bull
• Vodka & Juice — Vodka with juice

Small Plates

• Panfried Potstickers — Six dumplings with cream cheese, smoked salmon, spring onion, soy
• Tacos (3 pcs) — Beef, chicken or pulled pork with cheese, slaw and tomato salsa
• Karaage Chicken — Crispy karaage with homemade seasoning and dipping sauce
• Chicken Wings — Eight pieces, Buffalo or BBQ
• Chilli Garlic Butter Prawns — Prawns in garlic, chilli and coriander butter. GF

Salads & Wraps

• Summer Bowl — Zesty quinoa with cucumber, zucchini, tomatoes, chickpeas and tahini. GF; add chicken or beef
• Cajun Spiced Chicken Salad — Lettuce, mesclun, bell pepper, onion, tomato, corn and coriander. GF
• Cobb — Chicken or beef with lettuce, mesclun, avocado, tomato, zucchini and bacon. GF
• Grilled Wrap — Chicken, beef or pulled pork with slaw, cheese, aioli and sweet chilli; fries

RTDs — Bottled

• Jim Beam — Bottled ready-to-drink serve
• Jack Daniel's — Bottled ready-to-drink serve
• Woodstock — Bottled ready-to-drink serve
• Canadian Club — Bottled ready-to-drink serve
• Canadian Club Zero Sugar — Zero sugar bottled RTD
• Gordon's Gin & Tonic — Bottled gin and tonic
• Gordon's Pink — Bottled pink gin RTD
• Coruba — Bottled rum RTD
• Smirnoff Ice (Red) — Bottled Smirnoff Ice
• Smirnoff Ice (Black) — Bottled Smirnoff Ice Black
• Vodka Cruiser — All flavours, bottled RTD
• Long White — Apple & pear, raspberry or hazy lemonade
• Vodka Mudshake — Chocolate or caramel bottled mudshake
• Sparkling Margarita — Ready-to-drink margarita in a can
• Kirin Hyoketsu — Japanese RTD in pineapple or peach
• Asahi Shibori Sparkling Soda — Japanese sparkling RTD

Craft Beer On Tap

• Panhead Supercharger — Rotating NZ craft tap, by 12oz, pint or jug
• Panhead Sandman Hazy Pale Ale — Rotating NZ craft tap, by 12oz, pint or jug
• Emerson Pilsner — Rotating NZ craft tap, by 12oz, pint or jug

Wine By The Glass

• House White — Kopiko Bay — Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay or Rosé
• The Ned — Sauvignon Blanc — Premium sauvignon blanc pour
• The Ned — Pinot Gris — Premium pinot gris pour
• The Ned — Rosé — Premium rosé pour
• The Ned — Chardonnay — Premium chardonnay pour
• Jules Taylor — Sauvignon Blanc — Premium sauvignon blanc pour
• House Red — Kopiko Bay Pinot Noir — House pinot noir pour
• House Red — Kopiko Bay Merlot — House merlot pour
• The Ned — Pinot Noir — Premium pinot noir pour
• Pepperjack — Shiraz — Shiraz by the glass
• Wither Hills — Merlot — Merlot by the glass
• Lindauer — Sparkling (200ml) — Fraise, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris or Brut
• Lindauer Prosecco (200ml) — Sparkling prosecco in a 200ml serve

Spirits — Double

• Bombay Sapphire Gin — Gin, double pour
• Scapegrace Gin — NZ craft gin, double pour
• Roku Gin — Japanese gin, double pour
• Hendrick's Gin — Gin, double pour
• Absolut Vodka — Vodka, double pour
• Grey Goose — Vodka, double pour
• Broken Shed — Vodka, double pour
• Appleton Estate Rum — Rum, double pour
• Coruba Rum — Rum, double pour
• Captain Morgan Rum — Spiced rum, double pour
• Captain Morgan Rum Black — Black spiced rum, double pour
• Bacardi Rum — Rum, double pour
• Kraken Spiced Rum — Black spiced rum, double pour
• Jose Cuervo — Tequila, double pour
• 1800 Añejo — Añejo tequila, double pour
• Jack Daniel's — Tennessee whiskey, double pour
• Jim Beam — Bourbon, double pour
• Wild Turkey Bourbon — Bourbon, double pour
• Maker's Mark — Bourbon, double pour
• Canadian Club — Canadian whisky, double pour
• Crown Royal — Canadian whisky, double pour
• Jamesons — Irish whiskey, double pour
• Famous Grouse — Blended Scotch, double pour
• Johnnie Walker Red Label — Blended Scotch, double pour
• Johnnie Walker Black Label — Blended Scotch, double pour
• Macallan 12 yr — 12-year single malt, double pour
• Glenfiddich 12 yr — 12-year single malt, double pour
• Glenlivet 12 yr — 12-year single malt, double pour
• Glenmorangie 10 yr — 10-year single malt, double pour
• Chita Whisky — Japanese whisky, double pour
• Sheep Dog Whiskey — Whiskey, double pour
• Southern Comfort — Double pour
• Hennessy — Cognac, double pour
• DeValcourt Brandy — Brandy, double pour
• Chatelle Brandy — Brandy, double pour
• Malibu — Coconut rum liqueur, double pour
• Agavero Liqueur — Agave liqueur, double pour

Liqueurs — Double

• Baileys — Irish cream, double pour
• Drambuie — Whisky liqueur, double pour
• Galliano — Herbal liqueur, double pour
• Cointreau — Orange liqueur, double pour
• Chambord — Black raspberry liqueur, double pour
• Jägermeister — Herbal liqueur, double pour
• Kahlúa — Coffee liqueur, double pour
• Tia Maria — Coffee liqueur, double pour
• Frangelico — Hazelnut liqueur, double pour
• Midori — Melon liqueur, double pour
• Fireball — Cinnamon whisky liqueur, double pour
• Shanky's — Whiskey liqueur, double pour

Bottled Beer & Cider

• Quarts — Bottled Beer — Speights, Summit, Lion Red/Brown, Waikato, DB Export, Tui
• Corona — Bottled lager
• Corona Zero — Non-alcoholic bottled lager
• Steinlager Classic (bottle) — Bottled classic NZ lager
• Steinlager Light — Lower-alcohol bottled lager
• Stella Artois — Bottled European lager
• Heineken — Bottled lager
• Speights Mid — Mid-strength bottled lager
• Panhead Hazy Rat Road — Bottled NZ hazy pale ale
• House of Hop Hazy — Bottled hazy craft beer
• Alcoholic Ginger Beer — Bottled alcoholic ginger beer
• Guinness 0.0% — Non-alcoholic stout in a 440ml can
• Monteith's Apple Cider — Bottled apple cider

Non-Alcoholic On Tap

• Coca-Cola Classic — On tap, by 12oz, pint or jug
• Coca-Cola Zero Sugar — On tap, by 12oz, pint or jug
• Sprite — On tap, by 12oz, pint or jug
• Orange Juice — On tap, by 12oz, pint or jug
• Pineapple Juice — On tap, by 12oz, pint or jug
• Apple Juice — On tap, by 12oz, pint or jug
• Cranberry Juice — On tap, by 12oz, pint or jug
• Lemon, Lime & Bitters — On tap, by 12oz, pint or jug

Non-Alcoholic Bottles & Cans

• Red Bull — Chilled can
• Bundaberg Ginger Beer — Bottled ginger beer
• L&P — Kiwi classic, in a can
• Schweppes Tonic or Ginger Ale — Tonic water or ginger ale, in a can

Frequently asked questions

Where is The Crown Hotel & Pub?

At 31 Talbot Street, right in the heart of Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand.

What are the opening hours?

The bar is open 12:00–21:00 Monday to Saturday and 12:00–20:00 on Sunday. The kitchen serves food from 10:00 until late, every day of the week.

Can I book a table?

Yes — call +64 3 693 8458 or email divinehospo@gmail.com to book.

Is the pub family friendly?

Very much so. Families are welcome, and there's a dedicated kids' menu with nuggets, mini hot dogs, nachos and ice cream sundaes.

Are dogs allowed?

Yes, The Crown is dog friendly, so your four-legged companion can join you.

Are there gluten-free options?

Ask the bar staff for gluten-free options — one fryer is used only for food not containing gluten or wheat. All meals are prepared in the same kitchen, so traces of allergens may be present. Let staff know about any dietary requirements.

What's on during the week?

Pub quiz Wednesday from 7:30pm, meat raffle Thursday from 6pm, Cellar Sessions acoustic music Friday from 8pm (no cover charge), live music and a DJ Saturday, and Sunday roasts from midday.

Tips

• {"body":"The Long Sunday Roast is served from midday and only until it's gone — arrive early for the fist-sized Yorkshire puddings.","title":"Time your Sunday roast"}
• {"body":"Wednesday pub quiz kicks off at 7:30pm, with a cash prize for the winners and a bar tab for the wooden spoon.","title":"Bring a quiz team"}
• {"body":"Friday's Cellar Sessions bring acoustic duos to the front bar from 8pm with no cover charge; Saturdays step up to a full band and DJ with the kitchen open late.","title":"Catch the free music"}
• {"body":"The Farmer's Breakfast — kransky, bacon, eggs, hashbrown, beans and ciabatta — is available until 3pm daily.","title":"Breakfast till 3pm"}
• {"body":"The NZ craft beer lineup rotates regularly, so check what's pouring at the bar before you order.","title":"Ask about the craft taps"}

Good to know

• {"wifi":"Free WiFi","family":"Families welcome, with a dedicated kids' menu","dietary":"Gluten-free options available; dedicated GF fryer, but shared kitchen so traces possible"}