please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Haven't ventured in here for years, but the first day in a long time I decided I would - today - I found it was closed! The venue's website's still up, and opening hours suggest it should be trading all day from 12 on a Friday. However, a quick scan of the last Twitter entry doesn't bode well: apparently they've sold the Half & Half, after eight years. It says some BS about looking forward excitedly to the changes afoot, but we've all seen this sort of thing before, and frankly I have my doubts as to whether this place will ever re-open as a bar; certainly one with the varied bottled/draught stock seen in the last eight years.
Unless/until it's definitely re-opened, anyone coming from the centre of town should save themselves the bother of schlepping down South End, as there's nothing else down there of note pub-wise - although there are still some decent eateries.
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Small bar that looks like ex shop premesis. bit scruffy and rough and ready.
Only 2 real ales on, Hophead served too cold and a Cronyx.
Lots of European beers on, which probably attracks that crowd at the weekend.
Total lack of atmosphere.
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It was a good little bar until they stopped doing Koenig Ludwig draft wheat beer. The bottled European beers just don't compete. They still do the proper Czech Bud draft with both hop varieties but nether less it is still not in the same league as Koenig Ludwig draft. The other draft beers they do include Lowenbrau which is similar to becks really, and two Dark Star real ale varieties on tap. This place was alright for a while but lately seems to be expensive and the clientele seem rather pretentious.
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Meet the brewer evening with Mark & Simon.
Well lets start with the bad points. There was no senior members of CAMRA.
THE GOOD POINT:
This well instructed evening of how the Cronx brewery came about. Was well crafted by both mark & Simon. The beers we got to tast was the blonde @ 3.9 AND there new Autum ale @ 4.6 now there new Autum beer there say needs tweaking I and everybody else thought this was fine as is.
BEERS TO COME:
They will be producing a winter ale. Also there first bottled beer could be an IPA @ 6.2.
All of this could not of happen without the staff of Half & half Thank you to Ian and Sexy
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Not been here for a while beers good WJ KINGS Giold @ 4.2 nice great atmosphere
All in all very nice.
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A Very nice bar, decent selection of ales & very reasonable price-wise, too, especially if you go early to mid-week
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Great little pub. Decent reasonably priced drinks, friendly and efficient staff, clean toilets and non-offensive music. Has a bit of character also which sets it apart from the raft of generic venues nearby. Worth the journey to South Croydon
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Sad to see such average reviews of this bar, when it is something different from the usual that is on offer in croydon. Have been here many a time, staff are always friendly and attentive and the drinks are always of good quality. There seems to be something for every one whatever you drink.
I know they do some great deals and even cashed in on their august ale offer of 'buy 2 pints and get a half pint free'
shame this local independant bar cant get more local support from its customers or maybe they are happy to see its demise, which i think would be a very sad sight for south Croydon
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Where is the slerpy PR?
In here today. Atmosphere - nil; Beer - just about ok; Service - stunted; Customers - 1; Prognosis - death.
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Average - again - slerpy?
You stupid boy........
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I'm with a Dutch gentalmen who says and I quote the "staropramen is as godd as in CZ The hophead is average.
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average beer?
not what slerpy has said in 50 posts!
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I like this sort of small cafe-bar, and this looks a perfectly good example but the beer was very average.
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There were no 'origins' for Darwin who lived only 12 miles from the Half. Keep to the propaganda/ads slerpy; at least, its slightly more accurate - sometimes....
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more ads....slerpy?
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Actually we have evolved from apes but Wealdman you seem intent on confounding Charles Darwin and his"Origins of Species". If I think it is relevant I will post as much worthwhile information as I see fit.
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Yes, I've just counted 40 posts on BITE from slerpy in recent times for this pub.
All are very positive.
But blatant bias and advertisements are quite unhelpful on a site such as this.
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We all are simians Mr Slerpy - but you are the only one to repeatedly post 'ads' for the Half. A sad habit that had to be addressed.
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Unlike Wealdman I believe in sharing information, this event is very welcome and it promotes Sambrooks a Brewery which until now has not had a regular handpump serving their ales in Croydon.Keep up the grumbling and moaning, to call your efforts on a keyboard "reviews" is hilarious.Perhaps a little thought before hitting the keys would be good even a simian like you can do it !
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With nearly two dozen 'ads' on here - for the Half - Mr Slerpy (a paid propagandist for the pub) should now just be ignored; shameful really.
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On the 9th June the "Half" are holding a Meet the Brewer,this time it will be Duncan Sambrook, this is planned to coincide with the launch of Sambrook's ales on the second 'pump the one that is NOT Hophead, a tough choice as the Cricketers in Addiscombe has a Beer festival, I will have to flip a coin.
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Nice bar, good beers, staff polite and happy to see the customers coming in the door, other
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Great selection of bottled and draught beers that frequently changes and some good drinks promos. Nice place and friendly staff.
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The Half'n Half have five Dark Star ales on over Easter 22nd-24th April 2011, Hophead, Hophead Citra, Maibock, Golden Gate and American Pale Ale.there is 20% off real ale and bottles plus a chance to win a Dark Star minipin of a real ale of your choice.
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The two handpumps have been resited neare to the front door,this shortens the lines considerably( making for a better pint) and I enjoyed a very nice pint today.the guest ale was Festival.
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Slerpy seems to have to promote this basic outlet, at all costs.
His credibility?
Gone with the wind!
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Yet another rave/fantastic 'review' from the slerpy! GBG inclusion means little - nor does a mention in the local advertiser; however, slerpy will continue to sing the mediocre Half's praises, for some reason! 100 good reviews by Xmas?
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The Half and Half quite rightly won a place in the Good Beer Guide last year.it receives rave reviews from the Croydon Advertiser in their PUBSPY column.The half does a fantastic range of continental bottled beers and has hophead and a Dark Star guest ale.Beerlager, you should get out more and troll others posts a bit less, adulthood can be yours, carpe diem !
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About three dozen posiive posts now from slerpy, in as many months. Bias - yes; but sadly for a very average outlet with mediocre beer. Slerpy, please retire.
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On Monday the Half had Hophead and Dark Star Original on,I only tried the Hophead which was very good AND the correct temperature, at �2.16 a pint in a lined glass ( no short measures here!) I was happy indeed.
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Please ignore my last post incorrect pub.
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Dark star critical mass, sadlers winter spice hobgoblin blue money evolution & harveys best. All in fair condition
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Hop Head on & Solstice @ 4.2 nice but a little thin for me but the under lying spices are there.
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yes, slerpy has lost the plot. this place is as basic as you can get
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With about 20 very positive posts on this rather average outlet in the last 12 months or so, it would seem that slerpy is now the pub's PR chap; its a pity that an old BITE critic has had to resort to this (paid?) role; I, for one, am bored with his 'not to be missed - truly wonderful - magnificent' comments, when mediocrity is the norm under most headings - particularly beer quality.
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Having arrived at 15:10 ( advertised opening time)the Half 'n Half ,will open at
16:00, thakfully Croydon is blessed with many really great pubs, so it is easy to go elsewhere.
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The collaborative Thornstar from Thornbridge/Dark Star is now on, a black semi- porter style ale, not to be missed.
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Green Hopped I.P.A. is on alongside the regular Hophead, Some of the Dark Star ales fail to hit the spot but the Green Hopped has a startlingly refreshing taste making this a truly wonderful ale.
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Ducking and diving in various real ale pubs/bars in Croydon today I finished up at the Half'n Half,the two ales were Old Chesnut and Hophead both were magnificent.Oh ! I wish there was a smillie icon !
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Pleasurable visit last Saturday evening: a well kept Dark Star Festival on tap, and (ill advisedly...) three bottles of the 9% Hercule stout. The Half & Half remains a good bar option just slightly away from the main drag.
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The Summer Meltdown was very cloudy and had to be changed for a not quite so cloudy one, the pint had no vigour( a hallmark of any Dark Star ale normally) and was far to cold for me to taste any stem ginger which is an overwhelming taste in this ale.The virtues of a high turnover cannot be praised enough, it achieves a lot of a cellerman's aims,sadly the Half does not have the trade to stock two ales at all times and keep them in reasonable condition, a real shame as it is a walk from home and is well positioned for me as to avoid going in to Central Croydon
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Good beers, nice cocktails, tasty bar snacks. A tiny little place, but perfectly formed.
Really good to see somewhere making an effort to supply an interesting array of drinks when so many others barely manage to provide a palatable lager.
alexi - 14 Jul 2010 17:36 |
Sorry to be "ubiquitous" but I thought that B.I.T.E readers might like to attend the " Meet The Brewer Evening" planned for the 29th of June 2010 at 19:30. Pre- booking is essential( very limited availability) and may clash with a game of football which will NOT be shown.The aforementioned brewer is the second brewer at Dark Star, Mark.
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Yesterday the guest ale was Sunburst, the next on soon will be Summer Meltdown.Worth remembering that in good weather tables and chairs appear outside,not many pubs /bars have outdoor seating in Central Croydon .
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What a pleasant surprise - a treny bar that serves decent ale. I attended a birthday of a younger and much more trendy friend, and was delighted to be able to drink Hophead all evening. It was in quite good condition.
They don't do crisps - (!) - just devilishly tasty bar snacks, but to be honest you don't mind because it's a very pleasant environment, a cut above most of the places in Central Croydon, and the clientelle are all young and nice to look at....
Hope it stays that way. Staff were helpful and polite, and gave me free olives. I don't think olives go with Hophead necessarily, but as other people I was with were on Champers, it didn't matter.
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During Cask Ale week and continuing througout April the Half has a splendiferous offer- Buy five pints and get one FREE! So five Hopheads at �2.16 and a free pint of..... well today it was Winter Meltdown in fantastic nick as a freebie!That cannot be that shabby!
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Very packed on Monday night for the farewell "do" for Karel and his wife, he is returning home for a little while in order to resettle his family.As well as fantastic HOPHEAD the Six Hop Ale was on, it bore no comparison to the Hophead and as February has gone we will not see the stuff for another year( yipee!).Dark Star's beer for March is Saison which was not overly good last year but fingers crossed!
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The "Guest" ale was Golden Gate last weekend with Six Hop Ale to come on soon 6.5%.
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I went to a meeting last night in the "Funky Den" that's downstairs to the uninitiated. The ales available were Hophead and Winter Meltdown both were in excellent condition.Temperature wise the ales were exactly as they should be. A very busy bar last night and deservedly so.
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I went to a meeting last night in the "Funky Den" that's downstairs to the uninitiated. The ales available were Hophead and Winter Meltdown both were in excellent condition.Temperature wise the ales were exactly as they should be. A very busy bar last night and deservedly so.
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Notwithstanding the shameless plugging of the pub by its own licensee (I suppose one can't fault him for trying, but he should be aware that such a tactic can be viewed as arrogant and inappropriate by some users), I actually found both him, and his "lounge bar" concept far less odious than I was expecting. Indeed, it was rather inviting, and in some respects arguably outshines its illustrious predecessor the Beer Circus, as although the decor is clearly more akin to a cocktail bar than a pub, it is smarter, and I am bound to say, cleaner than before. I shall always miss Graeme's warm welcomes and down-to-earth banter, but it's not the new man's fault that he left and things had to move forward. And as much as I wanted to be disparaging, I found this to be a perfectly pleasant experience that was adapting well to the local area. I even found a couple of other co-punters from the BC days quaffing in here, which is a good sign.
The main reason for bothering to walk the not inconsiderable distance to visit, over 2 years after I was last here, was hearing that not only had Hophead been reinstated, but a 2nd Dark Star offering was now in place. Sure enough, pump No 2 was installed, and dispensing the Old Chestnut, which was about the only one of their portfolio I was yet to sample. Temperature was perfect, and it was full of flavour as DS beers tend to be. I can't fault the cellaring. Prices somehow remained the same as in 2007 - �2.40 which we all reluctantly must agree is competitive in today's market. Admittedly, the BC would offer a range of different brewers at the pumps, but as it's easier to maintain 1 good tie with a very reliable brewery than it is to establish many with several that may not be so reliable, I am comfortable with this choice, especially as I am assured it sells by the bucket-load.
For those wondering about the foreign beer element, the choice of 300 or so bottles is no longer offered. But there remains a goodly raft of bottled options from Europe, including Budvar and Budvar Dark, and a supposedly unique "Half and Half" draught option which is a mix of the two. One or two other lagers with real flavour are offered on draught too, so the Belgian or German beer lover shouldn't be so quick to avoid this place in future.
The only MAJOR difference besides the warmer, cosier interior is the lack of live music. It was tried, but didn't work out apparently. No great loss to me but I know some BC fans loved it so you should be warned!
Unlike Kodl, I am entirely unbiased, and if anything I was prepared for automatic disappointment. But I must say, not a bad effort so far, and he has shown to be a licensee who will gauge and act upon the tastes of his customers. By all means keep using BITE as a price-list my friend, but spare some time to think about bringing back handpump No 3. You know it makes sense.
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Hophead Amarilo 3.8% is now on
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With all due respect even in my wildest imaginings I do not see how the Half can be classified as a PUB !!! It is the epitome of a BAR!! Even down to the muzzak,schmaltzy jazzy kind of stuff that never ends.
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kodl - BITE is not an advertising site for your rather mediocre pub.
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Next time you are in, present your camra membership card and you can claim your 20% off
check out special offer for January !!!
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Has the look of a proverbial trendy wine bar. Dark Star Hophead and Espresso Stout, Hophead was excellent. A small list of foreign beers plus 8 or so Christmas specials listed on a separate card on the bar. �2.70 for Hophead, didn't see any reference to a Camra discount. A bit different and well worth finding.
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Espresso 4.2% superior coffee beer is now on
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Over The Moon is back on
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APA is now on. Job done KODL !
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Over The Moon is now on
A.P.A. Next
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New pump for guest beers just arrived - Grisette fruits des bois 3.5% abv (fruits of the forest) now on, more flavoured and wheat beers will be soon on offer
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Festive is not only on, it is top hole! 5 for 1 offer starts in January.After Xmas saunter along to this place instead of sticking in the town centre , well worth the exertion of a few burdensome calories.
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Festival 5% is now on
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all staff now up to date with all offers :)
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Yep ! I popped in had a pint and asked but the staff were clueless, still a mystery offer! Anyone trying to decipher this might like to read the current London drinker.
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A.P.A. 4.7% is now on
re offers - pop in for a chat :) & see yourself
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Another handpump for a guest ale( non Dark Star) is due soon.There is a buy five get one free (BFGOF) , perhaps KODL would be kind enough to explain the t and c's on the offer.It is astounding how far this place has come in ten months. The seating is mainly very low, some comfortable seating without requiring the skills of a professional limbo dancer would be good.Sadly many real ale devotees have failed to discover this place,when i've taken one or two here they are always suitably impressed.Exceptionally clean throughout.Hopefully a real cider and a beer festival will materialise in the future, a festival would bring in those stragglers who are yet to visit.The Half has a lot of potential .
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Double Chocolate Stout 4.5% is on
A.P.A. 4.7% and Festival 5% next
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Pubsignman,the Belgian beer tastings DO continue at something like monthly intervals , for a token amount ten beers are sampled plus snacks the tasting is tutored by a knowledgeable expert not by a publican who is clueless as has recently happened in another Croydon pub.The Dark Star ales are the cheapest available in the locality by a considerable margin.10/10 and still going forward.
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This small, narrow pub/bar is a worthy successor to the long departed Beer Circus that previously inhabited these cosy environs.
The Dark Star ales are very well kept, with Hophead seemingly always available alongside a second pump which rotates through the brewery's other offerings (as Kodl's posts below demonstrate). Add to this a comprehensive selection of premium lagers and bottled European beers (mostly from Eastern Europe as opposed to Belgium, from what I could see) and you have yourself one of Croydon's hidden gems.
The premises is pretty small, but there is a downstairs lounge style area (used in the past for wine and beer tasting evenings - not sure if these continue)if the ground floor is too crowded.
A real asset to Croydon and has the potential to be the best pub in the borough.
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Winter Meltdown is on
Double chocolate stout & A.P.A next
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Crikey! I managed to log in! Well! I did tour of the very best hostelries that Croydon has to offer today and the half came out tops.The second string ale was Winter Meltdown which had not been on very long, It was superb without a doubt! One or two drinkers have yet to stretch their legs this far south, the execise and ales are a worth it! 10/10.
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Sorry - Until this Wednesday 11.11.09
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Calling all Ale lovers. Special offer on Dark Star Hophead @ Half & Half Lounge Bar: �2.00 a pint until this Wedneday 12th November. Week days has just got better.
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Espresso 4.2% ( WBA 09) is now on
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The winter is on the wain. Espresso next in :-/ enjoy
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Winter Meltdown is on
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A.P.A. 4.7% is on
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Kodl, Over the Moon is a mild.Traditional dark mild ale, fully hopped and very quaffable.
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Over The Moon 3.8% dark & bitter is now on
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Oktoberfest 5.2% is now on
A.P.A.
Winter Meltdown
Over the Moon
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Porter strong dark ale is on
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Hophead & Meltdown are on
Porter 5.5%,
American Pale Ale 4.7%,
Oktoberfest 5.2% to follow
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Very friendly and helpful staff in this bar. Always two Dark Star beers available, with discount for CAMRA members. Good selection of real lagers.
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re slerpy 09 Sep, original award is proudly behind bar, the others are just copies :-)
4.5% Sussex Extra Stout is now on
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This little gem of a bar has a real refreshing feel aout it.The Hop Head is perfect ,and always another Dark Star brew on.The staff make you feel very welcome plus low prices.
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The Half recently won the CAMRA pub of the season award for Summer'09. Anyone wishing to view this prestigous award should venture no further than the gents urinals where it hangs in pride of place.I suppose the females can view it by prior arrangement.
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The beer at the moment is on the money. The Hop head is always great and the Old chestnut is great too. Try a half and half. No pun intended. Golden gate is in the celler. Look for it in the next few days.
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The ales have been excellent recently. A truly great addition to Croydon's growing list of real ale outlets. They always stock Hophead and another D.S. ale.The service is quick and friendly. The oversized glasses are always full to the brim.
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Very good condition Dark Star ales at very reasonable prices. Draught Budvar (original and Dark). Lined glasses, top nibbles, very friendly staff - what more could one want!
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new ales from Dark Star in cellar: Original, Old Chestnut, Golden Gate
bottles: Espresso, Sunburst, Imperial Stout
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Dark Strar BEST is on, Festival is ready in cellar
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Near perfect Dark Star ales at the cheapest price , what more could one ask? The atmosphere is really relaxing. Croydon and Sutton CAMRA use this venue for their committee meetings , good judgement!
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Hylder Blonde 4.2% is on from today
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A.P.A. is on now, Best and Hylder Blonde will follow
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Croydon & Sutton CAMRA
Pub Of The Season - Summer 2009
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just a quick post - Half & Half now having two hand pumps, Hophead as first and the other ale for this weekend will be to start with A.P.A following with Sunburst & Meltdown
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More of a wine bar than a pub feel, but not uncomfortably so. A large range of Belgian beers served plus a few continental lagers but also Dark Star Hophead served in marked lined glasses. Served slightly cold though in my opinion.
Narrow layout due to the side bar, opens out slightly either end, but not a big place. Seating comprises a couple of sofas, some stools at drinking shelves made of reclaimed timbers and some small "pouffes" ( small soft stools without backs....I'm sure that's what they are called). Some exposed rather ordinary brickwork, slate effect floors and some stained timber cladding. The bar has a multi coloured effect wooden veneer.
A jazzy/bluesy soundtrack, laid back kind of feel. Certainly not traditional or pubby but its ok in its way.
Belgian beer tasting sessions are advertised.
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Sample a few Belgian beers- �15-00 .
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lots of new Belgian beers on special board plus another Belgian beer tasting night on 25.06.09 start at 7:30 pm - 9:30pm
Hophead is great as always and for �2.16 a pint :-)
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The Hophead was very cold and a tad cloudy today.
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Great session last night with two friends. The Hophead was exquisite - on best form I've had it for some time, and the staff are very friendly and relaxed. I found the music to be at a comfortable level, although a group of drinkers sitting close to us were very loud in their conversation.
Very interesting bar snacks continue to be served, as they had been in the days of the Beer Circus.
On a Friday night beware the pub can get a little congested especially in the long narrow area adjacent to the bar, but do not be deterred, this is a great pub.
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Should have read two, drinking and typing obviously don't mix !
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More news - I have been told that there will be to more pumps installed in June. All praise to these guys they don't do things by halves!
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Belgian beer fanatics ! �15 tasting sessions with expert guidance 28th May and 25th June 2009. 7:30 pm. until 9:30 pm.a light snack is included in the price.
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Site of the old Beer Circus but has had a lot of work done. It's now a small attractive laid back chilled out bar with a few sofas and stools. There's a downstairs area that can be hired for private functions. The guv'nor is clearly passionate about the venture and happy to chat, including about the possibility of another real ale pump if turnover justifies it. Just one real ale at present, Dark Star Hophead, but it was in excellent condition and just �2.70 a pint (20% off Monday-Thursday). Draught beers included Becks, Leffe, Staropramen, Budvar and Budvar Dark, plus there were some interesting bottles in the chiller cabinet. The front area is quite bright as the large windows face out onto the High Street, so you can watch the world go by as you're enjoying a drink. Good place for a beer and deserves to be a success.
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The Half'n Half have placed an advert in the next copy of London Drinker, i have been given to understand that the advert will contain a 20 % off offer for card carrying CAMRA members at ALL times. So.... that's Hophead at � 2.16.Currently Hophead is �2.70 Fri-Sun.
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The Hophead is getting better all the time. They will stock London Drinker magazine alongside Wired in future. Getting busier every time I go in.
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Karel (the joint owner ) is drinking the Hophead and loves it ! Always a good thing when that is the case,everything about the Half is improving rapidly. I'm really shocked at the amount of Hophead that is being sold, great beer at a great price is an unbeatable formula ! 9 and a half /10.
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An engineer came out on Tuesday to alter the temperature in the cellar, the Hophead whilst magnificent was a tad cold. The owners seem very keen on their first foray into real ale, if the sales continue to rocket they are looking forward to installing further handpumps. At this level of quality and price the Half'n Half is heaven sent.10/10 my flabber is ghasted !
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I forgot to mention that the Hophead is served in Lined (oversize) Dark Star glasses and for the price of a smile the young Polish barperson happily tops it up to the gunnels ! The toilets can now be approached without any fear of catching a horrible infectious disease, in fact they are now quite swish ( the mens anyway ). All bar snacks are 20% off from Monday through to Thursday.
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Now selling Dark Star Hophead at �2.16 in excellent condition. A VERY cosy bar! A bit to easy to nod off in here ! Hophead is obtainable in many outlets locally, in the Beer Circus days it was rare.
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Half & Half is lounge bar that fuses comfort, style and entertainment. It�s a perfect place to chill-out and meet friends. Great drinks menu with fantastic popular classic cocktails, premium bottled and draught beers, great wines and champagnes.
Czech, Belgian, New Zealand, German imported beers, and while you are there try a pint of Half & Half - Original & Dark Budvar mixed together it�s great!!!
Free private room hire with ipod connection
Free Internet access
And lot more on offer so very recommended place to visit.
NOW selling Hophead 3.5% pale gold-coloured ale from Dark Star brewing co.
20% off your bar bill monday to thursday !
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Cleaner version of previous incarnation but without real ale pumps. In fairness, I won't leave a rating because this place will undoubtedly be preferable to most of its neighbours in the immediate area but why not stock some handpulled beer? 'Lounge bar'? Ta ta.
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