The Dog in the Pond

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The Dog in the Pond, often called The Dog (and briefly The Jolly Roger), is the famous pub at the heart of Hollyoaks. It first appeared in Episode 1 on 23 October 1995 and has been central to the village since then. The pub is a real place in the show, filmed at Hollyoaks studios, with the set rebuilt and refurbished over the years.

History in brief:
- 1995–1996: The Dog was run by Greg and Jane Andersen. They move to the United States, and Greg sells the pub to his brother-in-law Jack Osborne, who later shares ownership with his son Darren.
- 2006: A major fire, started by Sam Owen, destroys The Dog and sadly kills five regular characters. The pub is rebuilt, and a memorial plaque is added.
- Late 2000s: The Osborne family faces money trouble. The pub’s name is briefly changed to The Jolly Roger by Neville Ashworth but is soon restored to The Dog. The Costello family later move in.
- 2011–2012: Silas Blissett moves in with his family. Heidi Costello is murdered by her father, and Carl Costello moves to America with his son Jason; Riley Costello stays in charge for a time. The 2012 refurbishment finishes, and the Grand Opening is on 15 June 2012.
- 2012–2013: Riley is shot and leaves the pub to Mitzeee. Mitzeee puts The Dog up for sale in 2013.
- 2014–2015: Darren and Nancy Osborne become owners, with Darren eventually owning the pub outright. The Dog hosts Hollyoaks Gay Pride in 2015, but a shooting during the event causes more trouble. Jack Osborne sells his share, and the Osbornes take over again.
- Later years: Ellie, Silas’s daughter, owns the pub for a time before selling it to Mercedes McQueen.

The Dog in the Pond has stayed a central place for stories, drama, and many changes of ownership throughout Hollyoaks.