please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Fullers pub, located only a few minutes away from the High Street but feels much further. The HSB is always superb condition and they usually have at least four Fullers/Gales beers on. Had a refurb early summer when new people took over which lost some of it's old school charm. The beer garden across the road under the flyover is to be experienced.
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Best pub in Croydon, never had a bad pint there.
Not the cheapest place (£3.80 for HSB, January 2016) but quiet, relaxed, friendly.
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Popped in the other day, how nice that The Royal Standard has picked up again and the new landlord is running it as a Fuller's pub with all beers available on the pump and the optics back where they should be. No rubbish radio stations on the tv in the background - phew!
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Top Tip
Marty McFly , don't waste time , traveling back in time , in a Delorean , listing to a crazy professor , simply pop into The Royal Standard
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Top Tip
George Lucas , save millions of dollars on production cost and CGI , by simply filming your next Star Wars bar scene in The Royal Standard 😜
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OK: the benefit of the doubt extended to the chap now has to be withdrawn.
Not only have things not improved, they've deteriorated heavily to the point where what was haphazard and disorganised has descended into the shambolic and farcical.
Latest, best/ worst example, was on Father's Day.
No Chiswick.
No ESB.
No HSB.
Cider mis-labelled.
Stella is Carling.
Chiswick replacement going, and nothing to replace that.
Only a few days worth of Pride left.
The incompetence of it beggars belief.
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Legendary landlord and cellarman extraordinaire Martin 'Polly' Perkins gave up the Royal Standard after 25-odd years on April 13th 2015.
Fullers have installed a temporary tenant, who has apparently expressed an interest in taking over permanently.
While it seems unfair to compare an incomer to a Croydon and Fullers institution like Polly, the new chap - who actually seems an affable and willing chap - has got off to a mixed start.
Beer quality seems fine so far and it is very much hoped that the Standard's astonishingly good reputation for its ales is maintained.
Elsewhere though, there is either disorganization or a slightly reckless disregard for the regulars.
Small things, but e.g: why remove the coat hooks by the dart board (ostensibly because they interfere with the darts); when that's the set all the darts players use...?
The darts scoring blackboard has been given over to massive calligraphy stating the O Level Bleeding Obvious: that London Pride, ESB, HSB and Chiswick are available!
In a Fullers pub!! In the Royal Standard!! As if we didn't know!! Not one extra pint sold as a result of such promotion I'll wager, yet many evening users inconvenienced.
No card payments - it's all cash, as the old card reader has gone and a new one hasn't been sorted out.
And, worse, then: no cash back obviously.
Constant change shortages: everyone's getting fed up with the number of 5ps being handed out.
The WIFi's packed up. You can still see the old network, yet there's no internet behind it. The Fullers' alternative set-up is a joke.
And no-one wants to listen to Capital Radio late on in the evening.
All just little niggles, nothing too epic; just signs of flakiness.
As above, the new landlord seems decent and affable enough yet could do with spending more time on the premises - I've not seen him serving once - and sounding the customers out before changing things; and getting the basic admin right.
Judgement reserved and fingers crossed.
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I like this tucked away pub. Fullers ales on and kept well. Its looking a bit tired inside now and could do with a spruce up.
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Dwarfed by the Croydon Flyover, the Royal Standard feels like a local and is all the better for it. Five minutes walk from the splendid Fuller's pub The Spread Eagle, the Standard offers equally well kept ales in a more homely environment. Highly recommended, despite the rare risk of being run over when crossing the road to the beer garden.
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Still being capably-run by Martin after 26 years. Nowt much has altered, bar the rocketing of Fuller's beer prices which is sadly universal, but otherwise generally good news here. Ale is found in fine form (F's plus occasional guest), food is more limited than it was but those Lincs/Cumbs sausages are splendid beer fodder, and fish 'n' chip evenings are regular run! All-told a classic local which is just tucked out of reach from the Crudyon Moronoscenti.
The problem? Same as the Dog & Bull really - no punters nowadays at lunchtimes! Evenings I gather still tick over nicely, but compared to even five years back it's dead as a dodo at 1PM. A reflection of 'Da Management's steady but sure clampdown on lunchtime boozing I'll wager. Well, I'm having none of it! If I can't get here on a weekday luncheontide, it's only because I'm too lazy to walk all the way over!
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Nice little friendly Fullers pub, recommended.
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Wilson Mac, you must have the wrong pub! Nobody wears a suit!!
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Good traditional pub, as the other reviewers have said - under a flyover and next to a car park. But its a gem of a tucked away boozer and even has a wee garden opposite.
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Private beach 0/5, Views of the Pyrenees 0/5, North Korean karaoke nights 0/5, Alligator friendly 0/5.
Despite these drawbacks this has been my pub of choice whenever visiting Croydon (admittedly as little as possible) for many years now. As an old fart who likes traditional, friendly boozers with consistantly excellent beer quality, this pub can't be beat.
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A Croydon classic, in a classic Croydon location (underneath the flyover and adjacent a multi car park!)
Don't be put off though, it's a great backstreet local with relaible Fullers beers
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Walked in, got stared at by people in suits, so walked out again. Pretentious locals.
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Speaking as one of the clientele that only rates a 3/5, it's shame that Thirstyworker didn't announce himself to the assembled so we could also score him accordingly.
Given his slightly absurd method of trying to rate pubs using an empirical scale: I'd say he's probably a 2.25.
Cheers,
GT.
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Scores out of 5
Beers on offer 4 - Beer quality 5 - Full pint? 3 - Service 3 - Clientele 3
Garden & view 2 - Welcome & staff 4 - Parking 3 - Toilets 3 - Comfort 3
TOTAL 33 out of 50 OVERALL RATING 31 to 35 = 7
Comment: Croydon boozer but off the main drag so not found by many and you can escape without seeing any of the town which should get extra points. Beer is great but Fullers .... any chance you�ll ever put a guest ale in your pubs.
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If you want fantastic ale then this is THE place to get it.
Master Cellerman Status & very worthy of it.
Always have Pride, Chiswick, ESB, HSB on tap, as well as guest ales.
Bar snacks & food reasonably priced.
10/10
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New manageress, more like a landlady, young but knows her stuff. An improvement on an already very good pub!
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One of the best in Croydon. Very easy to lose a few hours tucked away in the darkwood snugs.
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I really must get around to visiting Croydon again. On my last visit about 2 years ago I went into the Royal Standard in Sheldon St which had regularly been my lunchtime haunt in the 70s. We went in at about 1230 on a Friday and it was empty. Back in the 70s you wouldn't have got through the door for suits and ties. It looks like the no alcohol policy most companies now have is killing lunch time trade.
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NICE PUB , GOOD PINT OF ESB,
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Went here a little while back having tried unsuccessfully to buy a drink in nearby Tiger Tiger. The only reason the friends from Croydon I was with suggested TT was half price drinks. I didnt like the place as soon as I walked in and would much rather pay full price for a better pub with proper beer but bit my tongue. Thankfully, we left thirsty and headed for the Royal Standard. Chalk and Cheese! This pub is ace! My eyes bulged at the range of Fuller's and my mate is now a convert from Weisbeers.
I carried 3 pints of ESB in the correct glasses back from the bar, though later on and much worse for wear, I sensibly used a tray!
Highly recommended pub and would definitely return if nearby.
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Eight of us visited this pub on the evening of 20.12.2011. We had had a curry out in South Croydon on a snowy night. The illuminated frontage of the pub called out to us like a beacon in the night. Inside the welcome was warm and the London Porter was fantastic. The beer was up to the usual high standard of this pub: delicious. Well worth the visit to taste Fuller's beers as they should be. No cheese could be seen nor smelt.
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Pooter, Is that the script for the next Wallace and Gromit ?
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I was in there the other day and a whole truggett of cheese was on the bar and it got up into my nose so I had to go outside to taste my pint without gagging. It was a blue cheese with a lot of people eating it with just one spoon and a biscuit tin and it was blue which equals mould to me.
The beer tasted nice when I got outside but then when the rain started I went away to somewhere warm and dry.
Everyone was laughing inside, I will go back when there is no cheese or any other sort of distraction like that. I had Chiwsick beer which is not so strong it was grand. I give it a 10/10 for the beer, 6/10 for some parts of the outside area but not where there is no escape from the rain and cold and 0/10 for the odour inside but this will not always be the way it is I don't think and 7/10 for the people inside.
I liked the bart people and what seemed to be locals though, they invited me to cheese and it wasn't their fault I don't like cheese with mould in it.
I will be coming back in October and I hope there will be food free areas inside or if not something like a cheddar would be OK.
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Splendid pub. They get a lot of the important things right here. Visit often.
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The Royal Standard is a splendidly unspoilt traditional Fullers pub situated on a street corner just off the main High Street
It's a small basic unpretentious locals pub with two adjoining bars - a basic public bar with a dartboard and stools around the walls and bar and a more comfortable and slightly larger lounge bar. The pub is virtually unchanged from my first visit in the 1970's, apart from the lounge bar having been slightly extended at the back.
Unusually, there's an outside drinking area across the road virtually under the flyover and which affords superb views of a large 1960's multi storey car park.
On my recent Bank Holiday Monday visit, unbeknown to me in advance, a beer festival which had started on the previous Saturday was still in progress and there were still 8 barrels on stillage in the lounge bar. A promotional leaflet listed a total of 10 beers on offer during the festival - which included Skinners Betty Stoggs, Wadworths Henry's IPA, Robinsons 4-4-2, Brains On The Head, plus 3 beers from the local Westerham Brewery. Martin told me that this was the 3rd festival the pub had held and that more would follow later in the year.
Situated not far away from The Dog and Bull, on which I have just posted, this is a pub that really should be included in any Croydon pub crawl.
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Festival starts today (May 28th). Beers on include:
Skinner�s Betty Stogs
Brains On the Head
Rudgate Ruby Mild
Wadworth Henry�s IPA
Dales Golden Daffodil
Warwickshire Bottoms Up
Robinsons 4-4-2
Westerham Freedom Ale
Westerham 1965 Special Bitter
Westerham Audit
Biddenden Dry is the cider; plus the usual Fullers offer.
Actually, two of the above aren�t available, but I don�t know which.
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The best garden within seven miutes of East Croydon station is at the Builders Arms (Fullers) it has a very large Connect Four and a Large Chess set, if you thought chess was not aerobic try moving their pieces! The Crown @ Sceptre has a reasonable patio area back and front of the pub and fairly high standards for food at a decent price.Croydon pubs really do lack a decent gardenas Grovetown quite rightly states the best Central Croydon garden is easily the Dog'nBull.
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Stonecoat
Agree: while the RS garden is OK, the Dog & Bull's in Surrey Street (not that you would know from the road) is far nicer.
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Without trying to annoy anyone, is there a decent pub garden in Croydon anymore? Would like to enjoy a lunchtime or two in the sun.
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This is a fantastic traditional pub, just a short stroll from the chaos of Croydon's High Street beer barns.
There's not a great deal of space inside the pub, which makes for a cosy and lively atmosphere. There's a surprising amount of seating thanks to the way that the pub is laid out and they've even found room for a darts area.
The beers are from the Fullers range, and you'll struggle to find a better kept Fullers beer anywhere in the borough. Unlike many Fullers outlets, they also have guest beers on and as mentioned below, they recently staged a very enjoyable mini-festival. The only real downside is that the beer doesn't come cheap, but I can forgive that every once in a while.
Good for an extended session and a must for any serious crawl of Central Croydon.
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Thanks Grovetown, that came from a local Camra committee member.Sometimes pubs do an inhouse festival and I feel that it is a bit cheeky to say the least.
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Your information about it being only Fullers' ales is incorrect.
I have seen the listing, and there is a significant selection - eight? perhaps 10 - from across the UK. Plus the usual suspects.
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The "Festival" I have been told will ONLY feature Fuller's ales, the one that sold out featued ales from across the u.K. So I will make a point of not going to hear John Keeling again!
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Another festival starting on Thursday 21st Jan - need to be prompt, as the last was unexpectedly popular.
As an added attraction Fullers' Head Brewer is there from 7.30 to host a tasting session, and talk on brewing.
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Really good classic pub.
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Addendum , Stonecoat is one of those annoying one time posters !!!!
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Stonecoat, yes I did ,I was one of the fortunate ones who turned up on thursday whilst there was still ales available the rest of the WEEK long festival, well, actually lasting a day and a half!!! There was only ONE cloudy beer, namely Pale Rider! Complete waste of time.
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Slerpy, did you go to the festival? 15 or so guest ales from all over Britain. Great success and I'm looking forward to the next one (January I believe).
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the world is FULL of surprises. the Standard has a beer festival coming up in October expect the full range of Fullers beers with a few guests from their list. not a lot to get excited about.
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Friendly little two-bar pub, if a bit short-staffed (with the solitary barmaid also appearing to be manning the kitchen as well). Good selection of Fullers/Gales ales plus a genuine guest beer (a decent pint of Okells Bitter). Well worth seeking out.
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London Pride at 95 pence on Wednesday 13th of April. Lagers at �1.25.
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Lots of diffrent fullers ales like Pride, esb, hsbc, london porther and they told me sometimes gust ales like hock and other things.
I went the last week on a sataday afternoon and it was full up with people, it was quite nice and it had this big screen what evryone was watching and it had sport on it something like rugby or golf at times.
The people seemed like local to there and they were quite mixed up from posh to common so evryone can fit in. Evryone in the pub was quite fiendly to me so that was nice.
Some man at one side was shouting funny things about someone johnson but evryone was laughing about it. Lots of funny things going around and evryone laughing a lot. It made me feel fitted in and happy.
I didnt have any food I dont know where it was but i did eat some bread rolls with cheese and things in them and they had good filling for only a pound, very good value for things like that I think. In the one down the road something like that would be 1.50 and not as nice with wet salad the last time.
I had 4 pints one of each flavour and they were well kept and full to the top.
I will go back if I ever am back there again.
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A welcome timely visit was paid here last Saturday. Chiswick and ESB were on their consistent best form, there was for the most part a convivial and relaxing atmosphere within and it was well worth the effort of coming down to Croydon to meet friends in this hostelry. Our visit was made all the more enjoyable by Martin the Landlord, whose friendly habit of walking round bidding goodbye to each group of drinkers in his inimitable style reassured all that in times of world change and turmoil some things remain reassuringly constant. Martin continues to command well-deserved respect from everyone.
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This is a proper, traditional pub in central Croydon, about 5 minutes' walk from the famous Surrey Street Market. It's a shame that it is overshadowed by the flyover and the multi-storey car park. It is on a corner site at the end of a terrace which looks nice and old-fashioned until you turn around and see the nasty bits. Beers are always well kept and the staff are friendly and helpful. Lunchtime food is not bad either, from my limited experience. The interior is pleasantly run-down (but not dirty) and the etched-glass windows add to the character.
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A nice backstreet boozer. Very friendly staff and customers and the beer(Fullers) is always top notch. The rooms are lived in - which I like in a pub myself - but clean and comfy with nice niches in the back bar. Definately worth a bit of a walk of the main drag.
chick - 14 Aug 2008 09:52 |
Summer is awkward in central Croydon to few pubs have a nice garden, the garden here is a wee bit small but beats sweltering in one of the bank conversions nearer to the centre. Be warned the prices here are on the dear side, but as you are probably aware Fuller's are synonymous with dear beer.8/10
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Decent range of Fuellers on tap, not a bad place
The inside could do with smartening up.
There is a small garden section across the way, and they were doing a barbeque. Nice touch there
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Quality back street local with good Fuller's ales on tap. Friendly enough.
Proper community hostelry that is not hostile but retains its loyalty from its local clientele.
If you like looking at the flyover, sit outside and stare at it. If you don't like it - don't worry - no-one will force you. Go and sit inside and pretend it isn't there.
One of Croydon's finest.
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rumours abound that the lease is up for sale.
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A nice change from the "beer barns " that dominate central Croydon. It is the right place for a quiet pint whilst reading the newspaper.
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Great pub, great beer, nice atmosphere - but who on Earth put up those awful floodlights outside? Instead of appearing like a friendly, welcoming, back street local, it looks more like a frozen food depot on some industrial estate. They are awful! please get rid of them!
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A grand little pub far enough from the madding crowd to be comfy. The bar staff are in the know when it comes to beers and are a happy lot. The atmosphere is very friendly and welcoming to the point that it hard to leave (even after last orders). All in all its a wonderful place to go to. The best pub in Croydon to date.
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another classic back street local and a must find if your in the area, fullers ales to perfection and i love the wood panelled public bar and etched windows with no loud music .
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Yes, I can't believe they don't have a meat raffle on a Sunday!
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What can I say - a very friendly little pub, with a good range of well-kept Fullers beers. I wish I'd had time to have more of the Old Winter Ale as it was the best pint I've had for a long long time.
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Top pub. They look after you. Mr Perkins could give a few lessons some of the other Croydon pub proprietors; sort the men from the boys. RIP Simon.
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In my opinion this is the best pub in Croydon. Landlord Martin and his staff know you, they serve the full Fullers range to a high standard, there is no noise, and it has a nice intimate atmosphere. It is a classic old fashioned pub. The only minus is that prices are quite high.
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It's true that it has the best beer in croydon, and also that it has the best pint of London Pride for a fair distance in any direction. if you don't like Fuller's ale, however, it's not so great. the small lager and cider selection is rather pricey (Magners 3.75 a pint)
great atmosphere insdie and a lovely, tucked away beer garden. wtch yourself in the carpark outside though.
THE BEST PUB IN CROYDON
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As good a pint of London Pride as you will get anywhere. Bit scruffy and basic; but amiable clientele and a friendly enough place to have a proper pint.
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A great local, serving the closest thing to a perfect pint I've ever had! Don't miss it!
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Superb pub - always a nice pint, friendly staff. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a traditional pub atmosphere with probably the best beer you will find in Croydon.
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One of the great pubs left in Croydon steadfastly refusing to compromise to the wave of crap bars that make up the drinking scene in central croydon. Excellent landlord serving very well kept Fullers beers. Serves one of the best known pints of Chiswick known to man woman and donkey. As befits a fine pub a mix of ages professions and gender. Very sound pub.
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Giving a strong endorsement to those who believe that simple is often the most effective. Utterly unpretentious but entirely genuine, the Standard is a beacon of traditionalism in modern Croydon that happily is still embraced by a broad mix of people. Popular with suits at lunchtimes, who take advantage of the good-value bar food, but also a more cosmopolitan lot come the evenings.
Tucked away opposite the gross intrusion of the flyover, it at least has harnessed this by the creation of a pleasant, mature garden underneath the concrete.
Ales are Fuller's; a good range of 3 or 4 is stocked, and all are kept very well. This has to be one of the surviving favourites for those of us who appreciate "proper" pubs and "proper beer".
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This Fullers pub is reliable as always, nothing fancy just a great pint in a good local under the flyover. Usually has one of the less know pints as well.
Good to here that Gales is appearing as well but will it be the same pint for much longer?
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One of the finest pubs in London. The Fullers beers, now joined by a Gales selection, are ALWAYS in tip-top condition. The ESB is legendary here; an eye-opener if you've never had it properly served. Martin the licencee deserves a medal.
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Recently popped in here after a 15-year absence. It was just as I remembered it: excellent beer and still a great pub.
anonymous - 4 Mar 2006 11:00 |
The best pub in central Croydon, and one of the nicest Fullers pubs I've been to.
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Traditional fine pub squeezed in between a car park and a flyover, but don't let that put you off. The inside's welcoming enough and the staff's even more so. One of "London's" best outlets for consistently good fullers beers, can get crowded Saturday nights tho.
When food's on it's good too, else there's plenty other places nearby to eat before downing a few ESB's.
Good pub all in all.
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Lovely unspoilt boozer selling the full range of Fuller's beers in good condition. Two bars, one with bare floorboards and wooden stools, the other carpeted and with tables and chairs. I wish there were more pubs like it. Only downside is the view of a multistorey carpark and a flyover!
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Definately one of the best pubs in Croydon. You can alway tell as there are no bouncers, it "prides" itself in seeling Fullers and usually the full selection.
Jeff "Sandy" - 22 Oct 2004 00:55 |
Marvellous pub in a traditional style.
Consistantly good pints of Pride.
No music, so ideal for a good chat
Simon - 21 Oct 2004 15:17 |
Good pub selling good beer with friendly staff and landlord. Overall one the best pubs in England
Nicola - 6 Oct 2004 13:58 |
Marvellously consistent pint and good lunchtime food. A real disaster area because when I go there I drink too much and stay too long
Peter - 1 Oct 2004 17:32 |
Still an excellent Croydon Pub, beer is seemingly always in good nick.
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Classic backstreet local, but well-heeled. Always well-conditioned Fullers (4 ales on offer). Helpful and cheery landlord and staff, and good variety of quality lunches at cheap prices. A worthy establishment.
Tom - 29 Mar 2004 15:54 |
Of all the pubs I've ever visited this one stands out - best Fullers, friendly crowd, and the most oddly sited beer garden in England!
Matt - 3 Jan 2004 23:40 |
The best pub in Croydon, the best beer in London.
ck - 7 Nov 2003 17:07 |
Lovely back street local with excellent Fullers beers. Friendly people and a little beer garden for the summer evenings.
Nicholas - 11 Sep 2003 05:29 |
A little gem of a pub, and something of an oasis in Croydon. The full range of Fullers beers on handpump is occasionally supplimented by an adventurous guest beer. Good value food lunches and sometimes in the evening. Beer garden underneath the flyover. A friendly, cheerful landlord, Martin, gives the pub a special character, and this pub is well worth a visit.
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