please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
CLOSED - Several years ago now.
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Used to like this pub, when it was owned and run by the old Irish fellow who smoked cigars. There were some right characters in this pub as well, most of whom were friendly and a good laugh as well. Shame it was taken over and turned into a third world buffet.
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WHAT A DUMP
LAZY INCOMPETENT BAR MAID. AWFUL TASTING LAGER
DIRTY INSIDE AND RE-NAMED A STUPID NAME TO TRY AND DRAG IN THE MANY SOMALI AND RASTAFARIAN PEOPLE FROM THE AREA.
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This pub is now called the Babylon Inn, and the part serving buffet food now seems to have a separate entrance. I had to wait to get served as the young barmaid was more concerned with putting up two balloons for a private party this evening. She managed to lose one to the ceiling and burst the other. There were pump clips displayed for Hobgoblin, Courage Best and McMullen's bitter, but she told me none of them were on. Then I got what sounded like verbal abuse when I went to go elsewhere. I recommend that you DON'T drink in this place. And also that you don't apply to work here unless you are both rude and incompetent, as that seems to be the standard.
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They're turning this into some kind of buffet restaurant and bar now. Once completed, I wonder if you'll still be able to get a pint in here.
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Only a slight improvement from a dreadful visit last year. Promise of a previously never seen Tetley's ale (the sole draught bitter) shattered by it being off, though at least (like the Gypsy Tavern beforehand), the barmaid service was friendly. Welcome moment of humour as a customer reversed his mobility scooter past the pool table.
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Went in here today just to see if it a changed, no chance, no one behind the bar waited for a few minutes walked out, the customers must be barred from every pub in Croyden to be in here. Next time just walk past and go to the wetherspoons at least you know you can get served.
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I remember this place ten years ago as being the one place to have a decent ale in the beer desert that is Croydon. Fast forward to a Monday lunchtime and there's just Courage Best on draught and almost no-one for company. Looks like whatever life the place had has been sucked out of it by the Ship of Fools.
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Quite possibly the worst pub Ive ever been in, first off the barman (the only barman) was busy chatting to a guy who already had a drink, going on about how he had to fire staff because of money etc, 3 or 4 minutes of me standing in his line of vision he decided to serve me (there were 5 or 6 people in the whole place) - beer was fine, took a seat, very loud bad chav house music comes on the stereo, the place is a dive, the clientelle are old drunks and a couple disabled chaps who I get the impression are here everyday ---- to top it all off I go to the toilet and find a massive turd unflushed in the bog, I start to think Im in one of those "You've Been Framed" shows, but no, its just a bad pub.
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this pub is awful the management needs to do some serious painting in here the staff are awful and needs a good clean up i had food in here ages ago and it was discusting this pub needs shutting down
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I popped in here yesterday. What a terrible pub, could not get a drink no staff behind the bar, the place was dirty and a horrible smell coming from behind the bar, it had 5 customers all looked like down and outs why do the management let the pubs get like this,
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Virtually empty when I visited here last Friday evening. Add to that a seemingly disinterested barman and an unpleasant half of Adnams bitter, I'm afraid I have to continue a theme from previous reviews - depressing.
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I found this quite a depressing pub. About 15 customers at 9.00pm on a Thursday evening but because the pub interior is quite large it felt very empty. Karaoke going on in one corner with a customer dancing away on his own in the middle of the pub to the horrendous imitation of Mariah Carey. Only one ale on (Adnams) despite four handpumps. One customer who was having trouble standing up asked for another drink and got served straight away by the barman who either didn't realise he was drunk or just didn't care. I did notice though that they were still doing food - well, put it this way, the menus were still left on the tables. I was tempted to order the sausage and chips from the 'Healthy Options' section but then I came to my senses. If I lived in Croydon this place would see very little of my money.
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Just up the road from the Old Fox & Hounds and has a similar clientele, older males. They do however have 6 shots for �5 and WKD offers so I guess they must be looking to attract the younger element as well. An attractive pub with lots of wood paneling and etched glass. Large windows on two sides make it very bright and ideal for people watching. Pool table, dartboard and a digital jukebox. Adnams is the only cask beer they serve and whilst my pint was drinkable it seemed on its way out, although to be fair the barman did warn me.
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Popped in on a Wednesday afternoon to see how this place is doing. Ale was on offer and well served, food was very cheap and pretty good but the pub itself seemed tired. The customers were mostly solo drinkers and it did not feel an especially welcoming place. Overall it was a good stop to read the paper in peace and quiet and not to have to endure the crowds at Wetherspoons. On reflection the food was actually pretty good.
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With its location at the top of Croydon's main shopping street and close proximity to West Croydon bus and train stations, this place could do a good trade in an area otherwise lacking in decent boozers. However, whenever I walk past, the place seems to be empty.
I decided to pop in at lunchtime today and was surprised to see quite a few people in there. Both the ales (IPA and Adnams) were off, but there was a decent selection of lagers on offer. The place looks and feels a little drab and depressing and the loud music pumping out didn't seem to lift anyone's spirits. It's a fairly big place, with a pool table at the rear and ornate (if rather dingy) seating booths along one side.
Fairly functional and friendly, but it's not doing enough to stop punters walking an extra 200 yards to the cheaper Weatherspoons.
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This boozer suffers from Croydon Syndrome, when it opened they had decent real ale, fast service etc. They had an awful LOT of trade, this made them take their "foot off the gas", so much so that it is now a hopless "dive ". I can see other pubs in Croydon doing the same thing, customers vote with their feet.
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has this place closed?... about time.. another pub full of depressing people...
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It has now closed. Aparently to be pulled down and replaced by flats
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Dreadful! Needs a complete overhaul of the physical infrastructure and some motivated cheerful owners. The toilets are a disgrace and the ceiling appears to be falling down. The clientele aren't up to much either, a bunch of undereducated aggressive drunken loudmouthed ne'er-do-wells largely speaking! Give it a miss!
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Nice pub. Not great beer, but passable. Friendly service.
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Average boozer full of blokes looking miserable and geezers playing pool.
It played "Wandering Star" by Lee Marvin at top volume last Saturday afternoon. Does it win any more points for this? Nah.
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Once upon a time, folk from LR used to use this, and enjoyed doing so.
It has got crowded since [and the clientele has apparently got younger faster that we have got older ...]
Haven't been in since about 2002.
Then it was heaving with people [punters] - and any forty-somethings seemed to be seriously overage.
Not unwelcpome - but a bit like visiting the Tobriand Islanders - a totally different culture, I'm afraid ...
G
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It hasn't changed at all! Still not enough staff and the staff that are there choose to ignore you if they feel like it! Was totally embarrassed when I popped in for a quick pint on the way home from shopping with a mate that had not been to Croydon before!
Gerry - 5 Jun 2004 03:29 |
