please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I thought I'd stumbled upon a crèche when I walked through the front door of this pub, letting the cat inside in the process. There were more kids than adults and they were occupying all tables, apart from one other couple. Apparently Saturday afternoons host storytime for children. But, I think there was actually a party going on. The ale choice was fairly poor, with 3 mainstream beers - Trooper, Rev James & Proper Job. In addition, there was no real cider. The pub cat made him/herself at home on a cushion at the end of the bar, in spite of a lot of noise. I supped up quickly before visiting the toilets downstairs. The garden is also downstairs and does look quite inviting. Disappointing.
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The pint of Blonde Witch (Moorhouses ) that I drank last week was extremely good.The garden is probably the best In Central Croydon.9/10.
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A very fine community pub serving decent beer. Friendly service and a decent beer garden.
No sign of hipsters with acoustic guitars and no "Here Comes The Sun."
One of the finest pubs in Croydon if you ask me.
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A community pub that fufills many functions, varying music nights, kiddies storytime every Saturday lunchtime ,quizzes etc.The last poster was very unlucky to come across just one real ale! That is perhaps the trouble with posting however honest a poster is you only see a snapshot of that pub at that time and that can be awfully misleading,clearly the visit wasn't at a weekend.This pub is a phoenix from the ashes when comparing it to the past incarnations.A spotlessly clean pub with a lovely garden.Possibly a second try on a weekend might transform your opinion.9/10.
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Another new pub for me, this one is very different and trendier than the Builder’s just around the corner.
Disappointing to see only 1 ale on the 6 hand pumps which was Robinson’s Trooper it was decent enough but I’ve had better kept pints than this one.
Has a feel of a club to it with fairly low lighting and dark walls, live music features regularly and the crowd are fairly hipster ish. Food available with the burgers looking very tempting, however the smell of old fat was fairly strong.
Being a short stroll from East Croydon station it’s surprising I’ve never ventured here before, but it’s ticked now and is worth the walk.
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The Oval Tavern is a traditional backstreet pub which features regular live music. It has a good selection of real ales and a large beer garden. It is only a few minutes walk from East Croydon station. The pub is also dog friendly, a bowl of water is usually available for dogs as are doggy treats.
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Traditional pub near East Croydon station. Good range of ales.
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In support of the last comment, The Oval has finally earned itself a place in the Good Beer Guide, issued this month by CamRA. It was only a matter of time until Esther brought it up to Green Dragon standards!
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The Oval Tavern gets a firm handshake from Terenced. Excellent range of beers (Old Peculiar is always a good find) and a nice vibe in the pub. Good beer garden too.
To be cherised I would say. And returned to.
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Second visit to Esther's new venture.Has the Green Dragon vibe which is a good thing.Ales excellent and varied.Reasonably busy for a Wednesday afternoon first time round.If in the area pop-in and support one of the bright stars of the Croydon pub scene.
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Esther has now bedded-in firmly here and while it's never likely to be directly comparable to her previous billet, the Green Dragon, naturally one can't help but draw parallels. I don't get here frequently enough to say too much, but observations suggest that she's transferred some good vibes from the GD, and it's patently clear the pub has picked up and is more respectable than before.
But, keen though I am to support E in building this venue to its full potential, three things concern me: 1) Lack of cask ale range (one assumes it's constrained by turnover but as little as one out of four is surely under-selling?). 2) Food prices (what was available sounded mouthwatering enough but the amounts being asked were not obviously commensurate with the dishes' descriptions. 3) Toilets! Locks on cubicles and a general shape-up would not go amiss (well, in the gents anyway).
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Thanks grove. I missed the nuance.
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I think that, of late, the ale at the Oval has been fine, miles better than under the last bloke; and better (dare I say than) under Graeme Miall before him.
I think what Richard is trying to say, Chief, is that - even if it could be improved in the keeping (marginal) - you'd need to be a really awkward CAMRA pedant pf the most forensic kind to take issue with it.
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So, one needs a moustach (sic) and a deerstalker to appreciate the fact that the ale at the Oval is badly kept. Right ho, Watson.
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A gem of a pub! I first drank here in 1991. I worked here under Graham 1 when it was a blues pub and it was a unique experience and pub. Now it is under new ownership with Esther at the helm. The last, clueless, owners almost drove this pub into the ground but what a turnaround. Original regulars have returned (always a good sign) but it is not a case of recreating what has gone before.
Esther is slowly but surely putting her own stamp on this little place and every week it seems to get better and better.
FOOD: this place could soon be a destination just for the food. I'm not talking gastro pub pretensions, I'm talking good, home cooking. The all day breakfast is quite simply the best I have ever had anywhere (home made bake beans, bubble and squeak etc etc..)
WINE: Now stocks better wine than when I worked there, good selection of reds (dunno about the whites coz I haven't had any)
BEER: Usual selection of lagers on draft plus Moretti? Italian I think, never had it.
ALES 4 ales on the go usually. Not sure what the CAMRA rating is for the real ale, to be honest I have tasted better kept ales but unless you have a moustach and deer stalker they should satisfy.
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Oh yeah, and my oldest kid enjoys the 'Storytime' with Jenny, on a Saturday (will soon bring my youngest when old enough). Now, he used to go to this in previous venue, but here it is a lot more intimate. Best of all, though, his meal was absolutely fantastic (Esther cooks I think)and v healthy. And, last Saturday, I had a meal too. It was not only worth it (very cheap (4 pints, two soft drinks, two meals = £25 - that ain't bad at all) and there was an awful lot) but utterly delicious, (i.e. made with good ingredients)... You simply don't expect this from a back-street boozer.
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This has become, since Esther's taking over, and the addition of all of her Green Dragon Contacts, including Kev (bar person), brilliant, vibrant, buzzing... Love it now. Good choice of ale (one criticism is that could do with more lower gravity beers, and more pumps). Esther told me this afternoon that she has 'loads of beers' - and I riposted with 'but only four pumps'... I kind of meant it though.
Visit this place, it is so full of feeling and atmosphere....
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First visit yesterday under the new - Esther's - regime - and what a transformation.
Admittedly, the last landlord - Graham II - couldn't (as one member of staff put it) "have sabotaged the place more if he tried" so it wouldn't be hard for her to be better.
Yet she has taken all the great things that Graeme I (the last-landlord-but-one) had done; and enhanced them no end. The space has been re-arranged to allow for more and more convenient seating, the beer offer (and cellar keeping) has been improved and the music given a more formal stage with better space for the acts and better sightlines for the crowd.
The kitchen has re-opened and the grub my chum had was not only good, but also great value.
The atmosphere was excellent and - having only been in twice in three years because of the misery of Graham II - can easily see myself being regular again.
Obviously, she is well known for her good works at the Green Dragon and this is all of that, plus the touches that the the latitude of it being her own place now allow.
Hurrah for Esther!
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I read all the reviews about this pub and really wondered what I was going to find. Well, I found something that I hadn't been expecting, as the pub has recently changed hands (July 2013, I'm told) so I guess the older reviews couldn't know that! The new owner is Esther, who is well-known in Croydon for having turned a number of pubs around and has a real passion for pubs, people, good beer and music. The evening I went it was quiet, warm and comfortable, and I read my paper and enjoyed my beer and some (really tasty) food (and I believe it was home-cooked!) off the menu - she said the kitchen had just re-opened having been closed for some years (who closes a kitchen in a pub nowadays??). Then the place completely changed: people poured in (almost too many people!). There was a live band playing a kind of blues (hoe-down?) and the atmosphere was amazing: loads of happy people of all ages (yup: I felt neither too old nor too young - good for this 48 year old!) drinking loads and stomping to the music. I'll go again and see what else happens to this pub.
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Now Esther has been in situ for a couple of weeks or so things are definitely looking up for the Oval. There were four hand pumps offering Landlord, Doom Bar, Tribute and another national brand, but more pumps to come and beers from SIBA perchance.
The pub is looking spruce having had a clean-up, and there is an air of optimism which was lacking under the previous regime. The music is continuing and there's a quiz on Wednesdays and open mike night on Tuesday . All good!
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Graham........Rugby player.......PMSL !!!
Piss head, yes !!
A dump in bedsit land....
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I enjoyed my visit here. Good landlord and pool table.
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what a load of old bollocks from shihan/landlord..
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Although the Pub was OK, the people who go there are the scum of the earth.
My Brother was beaten up badly outside the pub for no reason and nobody at the pub would help or call the police. The landlord then started to threaten my brother and kicked him out covered in blood. Stay away this Pub is bad news.
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My wife and I visited the Oval as we had been told it had been taken over by a new landlord who really takes pride in his beer. As we had finished work late we decided to pay the pub a visit. Had to use the GPS to get my bearings but to my suprise it literally is a stones throw from East Croydon station.
Upon entering we were greeted with a warm cosy pub with lots of nooks and crannies great if you like to sit and people watch, chat and enjoy the beer. Music played in the background and did not impede quiet conversation just adding to the atmosphere.
I chose a pint of Doombar and my wife had a half pint of Strongbow. The Doombar was certainly on form, smooth with brussels lace very morish and quaffable, the Strongbow was also spot on. Of late when we have gone into the pubs in the area pub we never seem to both get what we want it's either good beer and average to poor cider or the other way round. 10 out 10 landlord.
The landlord in question is called Graham apparently he is an ex Rugby player with the nickname of Beastie and his wife Jan were a delight to chat with and made us both feel like we had been regulars for years. We didn't try the food but if is anything like the beer they are on to a winner. We would highly recommend a visit if like ours this is your idea of a good night midweek. Good chat good beer and cosy surroundings.
Apparently they have live music towards the weekend...... Rock and Blues....sounds like a good way to end the week .
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used to go to the oval but stopped due to too much Blues type music almost had me crying in my beer.Found new management to be very pleasant and have bought in live rock bands on Saturdays have been for the last 5 weeks and had a great time.Beer as improved too just wish more people came there.
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From my perspective, I am undecided about the new team.
It's a shame that a lot of the old prints, pictures, LP covers and other knick knacks have been removed; and no real effort made (yet) to replace them as a deal of atmosphere has passed with them.
But: no matter - that can come later; and the new people are the new people, and so what of them?
1. They have yet to reveal themselves to be personalities like their predecessor. As yet, while pleasant enough, one couldn't really describe them as personable and certainly not as 'hosts'. This may well change as they relax into the roles, but at the moment they need to cheer up and chat up a bit.
2. Ale good, perhaps even slightly improved in the keeping. Prices remain keen (locally) at under �3 quid a pint.
3. Live music policy remains intact, although it is in this respect I'm not hopeful. Not only have the first of the rock/ tribute/ cover bands been booked; but I overheard one of the new guys slagging off Big Joe Louis - a London blues stalwart. One criticism was that Joe was out of tune. This belies ignorance of the genre, as he wasn't if you're Son House or well versed in blues records c. 1948.
Based on other overheards, I am expecting a lot more SRV, Claptonesque rockist nonsense and like as not the regular appearances of Rik Martin, Bad Influence etc.
In which case, it'll be time to move on.
In the meantime, while signs are not promising, one will try not to judge hastily quite yet.
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Not been for a long time, but went again recently, and will be going back. Good beer, good music, and is getting more music too! Skip the builders arms, go here instead.
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The Oval 6th November 2010:
Drinks: These were spot on....had a lovely pint of Butcombe Gold. My friend really enjoyed his Kronenbourg.
Price: Very reasonable at around �5.90
Music: A mobile DJ playing the likes of Peter Andre and "I'm a barbie girl"
Entertainment: Disco ! + Kareoke !
Clientele: A definite change to the crowd that used to frequent this place.
The pub has changed and definitely not for the better in my opinion...I felt saddened as I left because Croydon needed the Oval just the way it was.
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I know one of the new landlords well, they will not be changing anything. A confirmed ale drinker also!
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Heard the news about change of hands for this pub - its true. However, have found out from incoming landlords that contrary to the rumours flying around, it is NOT stopping the music and they intend to keep to the same format i.e. live music, blues on Sunday and various other nights along with rock, jazz, soul and any other music you can think of! Webite is to be updated with details soon. Definately not changing to a 'plastic pub' - thank goodness!
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Changing hands in October.
What the incomers will do is anybody's guess, but if the music ends it will be a severe loss to the local and London blues scene.
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A rare Sunday evening visit to this amiable backstreet pub. One of Croydon's better and - as with most of the Croydon's best (e.g The Royal Standard, Dog & Bull) - worth straying off the beaten track for.
It can be very quiet in the early part of the week, but builds towards very social Thursdays through Sundays; largely due to the interesting and quality Blues and Rhythm 'n' Blues acts staged here.
Yesterday's was no exception: a well attended gig for the excellent jump-swing/ Chicago blues turn Rollo Markee and the Tailshakers.
Ale on offer was Tiger and Proper Job; both of which were in good nick.
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Wide range of beer. Friendly atmosphere, people seem to go there to enjoy the live music that's put on. Good quality ales.
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The sort of pub where you go in for a quick half and end up having 3 pints.......say no more. Consistently good real ales and very friendly staff and customers.
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Great locals' pub with friendly staff and customers. Refreshingly free of corporate bores unlike some of the other pubs in the area. Excellent live music events - mainly blues. Normally 2 well-kept real ales. Highly recommended.
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Great! Went to the Thursday blues night and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Good music, good beer, good crowd and friendly service. Nice.
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Quite a nice backstreet pub, five minutes or so from east Croydon station.
The interior is quite spacious with ample room for a pool table, dartboard and DJ area. All the seating is arranged around the edges of the room, presumably to make room for the live music, but it does leave the place feeling a bit empty and cold, despite the nice, low beam ceiling. Would imagine this pub is better when it's full and there is some music on. For a quiet pint, I prefer the Builder's Arms, just down the road.
There were two guest ales on tonight. I tried the Tiger, which was fine. Not much other choice though.
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A bit hidden away, but only a short walk from East Croydon satation. Fairly basic pub, but obviously makes an effort with an interesting line-up of live music events. Nice pint of Caledonian Ale Lang Syne.
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beerlover 666, I would tend to see your point but having met the guvnor of the Glamorgan I would have perhaps gone for corpulent instead of corporate !
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A fine, real pub, and a bolt-hole for those who are increasingly fed up with the Glamorgan's pandering to drunken corporate bores. There are usually a couple of real ales available; the pub also has a pleasant beer garden.
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Awesome place, away from the troubles of Croydon. A great place to go if you want nice people, a decent pint and a garden. Ooooh yes.. a garden. ALWAYS good!
Summertime down there are pretty nice indeed!
Once of Croydon's nicest pubs, definitely worth a look if you don't mind a little (very short) walk out of the town centre.
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This is another real pub and probably one of the top pubs in Croydon. It's unpretentious, the staff are friendly, there's a garden, a pool table and dart board.
There are usually two real ales on and they change regularly and are often ones I've not tried before. The food is cheap and good value but don't expect cordon blue cuisine for that price, it's just good honest fare.
They also play early ska and soul music, which suits me just fine.
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Top ale, staff & guvnor. Definitely the best in Croydon, even has live music acts. Great atmosphere, and a nice suntrap garden.
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This is a bit of a hidden treasure and the beer garden is like a little magiacal well kept secret, and wonderful on a sunny afternoon as it is a proper sun trap but they DO have shade for those who need it. �5.60 for two smirnoff and coke? I WILL be here regularly this summer!
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Enjoyable visit, cosy place with a great beer garden that was packed during my sunny Sat visit. There was a BBQ in motion, but was exclusive of a private party, which was a shame as it smelt good. Still at least the garden didnt get shut off for it...
Stuff are fairly prompt. Small range of ales but the one I had was really nice
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I don't think you could ask for more from a pub. It is certainly the best pub I've been to in Croydon and I've been to a few though any suggestions are welcome. The staff are really warm and friendly. They manage the fantastic art of being sociable yet fast at serving drinks which seems to be an almost dead skill. The crowd are a good mix of friendly older locals and younger patrons who all seem to rub shoulders and mix really well. The food is top notch, o.k. I've only had the Sunday roast but it's always been good, well priced and a decent size portion. Nice garden out the back and a top notch quiz machine (ok not everyone's cup of tea but I like them) which still has the sound tuned on (good for players) but it's turned down enough that it doesn't annoy everyone else. Good selection of beers as well.
The faults? Bit of a trek to get to the toilets and the location is a bit tucked away. As neither of these can be helped without major refurbishment/moving there's not a lot you can do about it. Highly recomended.
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A good locals' pub with an excellent live music programme. The beer quality, whilst generally OK, does drop from time to time particularly during warm weather.
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Whilst I never had a "bad pint" as such, I stopped going here during warmer weather as the ales were always served totally unchilled. It's been dropped from the 2008 good Beer Guide.
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The Oval's open 12-3 & 4:30 to 11 mon-fri and all day saturday & sunday.
homemade food 12-3 mon-fri & 6-9 friday nights and excellent homemade roasts on Sunday.
A brilliantly secluded suntrap garden, seating about 50.
The music ranges through funk, blues, soul, rock, jazz, latin, ska, punk, and so and so on.
Dj's on Friday Nights, Live Music (mainly blues) on Sundays (from 5) and Wednesdays (from 7).
Artists have included Lazy Lester & James Hunter (google them if you don't know).
Usually a couple of well kept cask ales available, and several flavoured Sambucas.
It's 20 minutes from London Bridge & Victoria and is less than 1 mile from 3 train stations and tram lines.
The atmosphere is always good and your life can only be improved by visiting The Oval.
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Trainman was perhaps a bit unlucky - not least as they answer the 'phone when I've rung. Beer offer is normally good - Night Watchman and Pedigree for instance on 09-08-07 (although they do run out on occasion). The Blues nights are every Thursday and usually feature high-quality, well-known acts - and this is reprised on Sunday afternoons too.
All-in-all a comfy, friendly 'boho' boozer - especially if you like British R'n'B.
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Couldn't check opening times before returning here as the number listed above 'does not accept incoming calls'(!) However, it was open at 14:30 but only one of the four handpumps was in action as they were 'waiting for a delivery'; so no beer for a few days then? The Waggledance was warm & fairly unpleasant. I liked the rather bohemian look & feel of the place but I was the only customer and the beer & dodgy 80s funk drove me away pdq. Pity, as I liked the idea of the occasional blues programmes they put on but this correspondent cannot identify with many of the positives listed by others below.
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I like it here. One of my 2 favorite places in croydon. This and the Green Dragon for it's friendly staff and a mixed crowd.
And you get 35ml spirits for a a really good price.
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CLOSED at 15:30 yesterday. Check opening hours before travelling!
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Heavenly place. We didn't know it was here for the longest time, what a relief.
Good ambience, proper dodgy pool table, dart board. Beer Garden. They play music you've probably never heard before (unless you really know music) of the reggae, ska, alternative variety. All good stuff. The beer is a considered collection, and poured with pride.
anonymous - 12 Apr 2007 14:35 |
Great Pub. The Guv'nor is a top man. Very friendly and accommodating although not very good at pool!! I tried to teach him when i lived in "the ranch"
Great beer, awesome music, friendly owners, tasty women..need i say more ?
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Used to use this pub when I worked in Croydon and had a leaving do there. It is definitely the best pub in Croydon. Nice relaxed athmosphere friendly locals and friendly owner.
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I made an effort to visit after seeing its inclusion in the 2007 GBG. Just two ales on my visit: an Adnams seasonal and Marston's Witches Brew. Beer was served in good condition but not at all chilled, which doesn't suit my personal taste.
I did like the pub itself though. A quirky backstreet local with a laid back bohemian feel. Understated "student bedsit" decor; not too tatty, not too trendy, just had a nice lived-in feel. Old music memorabilia on the walls, 60's blues, ska, soul music playing at a sensible volume. Nice place for a session.
Different enough to be well worth a detour if it's to your personal taste.
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Real Ale here is usually good often very good, no regular fixtures they are constantly changing.
Elected to the 2007 Good Beer Guide for the first time - one to keep an eye on.
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Best pub in croydon. Darts, pool, reasonable prices, nice garden, nice staff, good attitude, great music. Plus it was in Peep Show which makes it even more legendary. Only one minus point is they don't have a quizza, but i like to think that this is only because a quiz machine is not always conducive to banter.
Long live the Oval.
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Ooooh this is nice friendly pub. Its dark and heavily beamed with nice big tables in nooks to sit at. Beer is great and with guest ales too. - not badly priced. The music is an eclectic mix of 60's rock and mowtown and the staff are really friendly - just like a welcoming boozer should be. Its a little gem.
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I've never been here, but it's the pub that Mark and Jeremy go to in Peep Show. So that's a recommendation of sorts.
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Fab pub. Fit chicks. Great pint. Loud music
anonymous - 10 Nov 2005 01:13 |
Love this place. Many reasons to go: chilled out for all the right reasons (not in a pretentious hoxton/shoreditch 'chilled' way. I mean in a great atmosphere and well arranged design condusive to jibber jabber way), great staff (I hesitate to call them this, as you feel more like a guest and they are so friendly and up for it), good beer and music and not a chav in sight. I like this place so much that I am tempted to tell you NOT to go, so it won't change.
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Wicked pub with always an interesting mix of the right people that are trying to avoid the hell of Croydon High Street. This place has cool music, great staff and generally a cool atmosphere. Great place for Croydon people to meet with friends and chill out on your way home or if you want to escape the trip to town.
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A blinding, friendly pub with great music and an eclectic and chilled out crowd. Fantastic beer garden, live blues on Sunday afternoons. Excellent for a packed Friday (get there early for chairs, people) great for a pre-club Saturday (East Croydon a 5 minute stumble) and God-designed for chill-out Sundays (roasts as well.) A top boozer!
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Lots of fit blokes in here
anonymous - 3 Jun 2005 13:26 |
I like this pub. I go here once or twice evey few weeks. Friday night is better than Saturday with dj's playing all kinds.
Similar to the Ship in the kind of people it attracts but they have slightly different music.
Pool table, which seems to take up half the pub though.
Nice staff, my kind of pub!
anonymous - 19 May 2005 11:29 |
Nice little pub. Has a pool table.
Stef - 24 Sep 2004 13:43 |
