Watters Creek mall in Allen will soon be home to an English-style restaurant and bar called the Lion & Crown Pub.
The bar, which is expected to open in August, will inhabit the 6,800-square-foot space facing the mall's central green that was formerly the Londoner. Owner Sandra Fortman amended the space by adding a private room in the back, a stage for live music in one corner and accordion doors that lead to the pet-friendly patio, so the restaurant has an indoor-outdoor feel.
The food is a mix of burgers, salad, flatbreads and traditional British fare, such as bangers and mash and cottage pie.
Lion and Crown plans to be a destination sports bar with 16 TVs and a full bar, including 38 draft beer taps.
"We'll concentrate on the footballs -- both American football and European football," Fortman said. But, she added, no sport is off-limits.
In addition to watching games, patrons here can also play games, including pool table, trivia and darts. On Friday and Saturday nights, Lion and Crown will have live music. Hours of operations are seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Allen marks the second Lion and Crown Pub location after the flagship in Addison, which opened in 2010. The new one, the owners said, is closer to their home. It joins several other restaurants in Watters Creek, such as Blue Fish, Cheesecake Factory, Cru Food and Wine bar, Grimaldi's Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria and more.
Lion and Crown is one of a few new watering holes opening up in Allen -- The Brass Tap is expected to open this summer near Highway 121 and North Watters Road. Earlier this year, the suburb became home to an craft microbrewery called Nine Band Brewing.
