please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The George is a nice JDW in the centre of Croydon. 5 guest handpumps, also some kegs, bottles and cans, several new to me. The Wetherspoons app worked (order and pay from the table) but not for the guest ales.
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Slerpy (last poster/barred from most Croydon hostelries) is drunk, using the George wi-fi - again. Hence the usual rubbish, with caps and bad spelling. Soon to be banned from the excellent George too! One of Croydon's very sad cases.
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The George haS NOW GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE,THE ONLY BEERS WORTH DRINKING ( A TAD MORe EXPENSIVE THAN THE USUAl dross) SUCH As Burning Sky Aurora and plateau are no longer order and the back bar has a certificate stating that a minimum of one Oakham beer will be on at all times but this is a 'spoons and so without saying it is not honoured.
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A new manager and within weeks the standards at this pub have dropped beyond belief! The back bar seems to be closed at most times, the beer quality has sunk.Not worth my time now.
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Quite a good pub for a Wetherspoons. Which may be damning with faint praise but there you go. It is not too large nor cavernous, and being very central gets a lot of custom, not just Wethertramps. Beware the steps to the (gents') toilet and the way back - must be worse if inebriated (and why wouldn't you be?)
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Very busy 'spoons. Beer in good condition and cheap.
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Visited this place on a late Friday afternoon, before catching a train to Brighton. We had fish and chips and a glass each of pinot grigio. Found the service to be really good, as was the food. Bit crowded, but it was a Friday. Decided to stay a bit longer and caught a later train - prices for Heineken lager very reasonable for a South London pub. Really good atmosphere. Will definitely return.
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Sadly the upstairs bar has suffered from very poor service of late particularly when there are just one or two customers.The staff relate how good their night out was etc.This is exacerbated by the spot the manager competition-do they have one? If so when will he surface? Am I that Interested to find out? No!I think finding another pub and paying a trifling twenty pence extra is the best option that way my drink will be served the same day that I order it! 2/10.
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One of the busiest Wetherspoons in the whole country. Consquently it can get rammed (it has too many tables/gambling machine in which doesn't help. The back bar isn't always open but the front one does have wide range of ales, usually in the £2.50-£2.80 range. Close to George Street tram stop. Always worth a visit for a drink, but rarely stay for more than one.
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I like the George. It is a friendly place with an interesting selection of beers. The staff are very nice and it is clean.
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Yesterday the back bar had two Triple fff beers and three from Ascot-Alley Cat,Penguin Porter and single hop. The front bar was a Twickenham tied house.Apparently next week is a London battle of the beers and then a delivery of Thornbridge ales is due.
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My most recent visit was on Sunday 3rd January.
The bar at the rear of the pub had 4 different Surrey Hills on - which seems to have replaced Dark Star. I'm not sure if this will be ongoing.
The Surrey Hills which I had : Ranmore Ale at 3.8 and Albury Ruby at 4.6 were both well kept and excellent beers.
The pub can get very busy and quite rowdy but Sunday evenings after about 6 p.m. seems to be its quietest time.
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Visited again on Sun. 13 December 2015. The Twickenham Ales Small Batch Stout was very good and I'm warming to this place a lot. Much more relaxed, though still lively, on a Sunday (gets very crowded on Saturday evenings).
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After a recent bad experience with below-par beers (see review below, posted 8th September), I again had occasion to visit the George (following a Sunday-afternoon walk from Tadworth to Merstham). This time the ales we had -- Twickenham Yakima Valley ABA and Surrey Hills Ranmore -- were fine.
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Notwithstanding the unfortunate experience below, The George again makes it into the newest edition of The Good Beer Guide. Perhaps things have declined since the survey period ended six months ago, though in my humble opinion it remains - for all its faults - one of the most reliable boozers for beer in the town.
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I went to this pub late last year and had a decent pint, so when in Croydon again a few weeks ago (30 August) I thought I'd pay another visit. Sadly, all the ales my wife and I tried were well below par. (We tried four, one of which was a Sambrook's beer but I can't remember what the others were.) They were all on the borderline of being undrinkable, but perhaps not quite bad enough to demand a switch. Perhaps it was something to do with the bank holiday weekend but it was disappointing.
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I'm pleased to hear that three Dark Star's made an appearance, if you read the post carefully I clearly didn't say that they were NEVER on I said the appearance of these breweries ales was rarer,which is true even the chap who orders the stuff has the cojones to admit that!
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I don't know what you are on about, slerp. Didn't notice the others you mention but there were three different Dark Star ales on offer a couple of days ago.
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Dark Star,Oakham,Tillingbourne and Surrey Hills beers are now a rare sight in the George,they are trialing every cheap beer that you can imagine,thankfully I can be in the Cask at Pimlico or any other equivalent pub near a major station in an extra 10-15 minutes. So the experiment of putting on decent beers in this 'spoons has come to an end.
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The Jaipur has,after a very long absence returned, it is not the stuff of legend it once was but it is still a decent pint at £3.15.
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Jaipur is listed in the 2015 GBG, anyone traveling a long way will find it is no longer available. Lots of London Pride, Doom Bar and Broadside, Abbot on both bars and Greene King IPA.
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This pub has a very good real ale selection. Bar staff are mostly good. Unfortunately it is attractive to young club-goers at weekends, and therefore has a noisy and threatening atmosphere on Friday and Saturday evenings. Bouncers, though essential at a place like this, can also be a problem. One in particular is harmless to troublemakers but very aggressive to everyone else! These things have made me stop going to this pub.
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Most of the handpumps are now fitted with sparklers this is causing a longer wait at the bar and the staff are having difficulty in providing a pint with 95% liquid,the request for a top up is not always met with the courtesy that is expected , this is in part due to the rapid staff turnover here.
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Consistently good beer on my regular drop-ins, and consistently good service - and all this despite Steve leaving in late 2013. The reason? Ildiko, the new manageress has had five or six years of experience here already and happily was asked to take over rather than parachute some no-mark in. She isn't the most talkative of staff but she is immensely industrious and I'm confident won't let standards slip, despite ongoing challenges from the constant throughput of weirdoes, chancers, dossers and drunkards they face, owing to its central Croydon location.
JDWs are inevitably 'mixed', as they try to appeal to all people all times. And often, that makes them jacks of all trades and masters of none. But, if you can ignore the old pirates and young thugs, hopefully you'll see this is a rather more worthy Wetherspoon than many, with great cask ales still at acceptable prices, passable food, reasonable service and actually, not an unpleasant interior.
And Charley has to be the most authentically happy barmaid in Greater London (not that there's much competition!). How she stays so buoyant doing that job I'll never know.
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Slerpy - you're still free! We thought you'd been done for tax evasion again, on those houses you 'inherited' in Dulwich.
Is it true that every time you bend your elbow, your mouth opens?
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For a short period of time last year the range of ales was very narrow but thankfully the new lady manager is putting on a much wider range. The back bar is more comfortable simply due to one table being removed this has given a tad more space to the other tables and you can move your chair back without sending someone on the table behind into orbit.The serice is usually swift and the staff are welcoming, so leave your misplaced anti 'spoons bias at the door and enjoy probably the best range of ales in South London.
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On the beer front it has to be the best in the area by a mile, (real ale paradise). What I don't like about it is the fact you have to jostle with other punters to get to the bar. Trying to find a decent seat can be problematic, as it is usually packed in the afternoon and evening. Most of the clientele are paddy's with gambling/drink addictions.
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Excellent beer,very good range.Got to be the best spoons in the greater London area.
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As ever a cut well above your average 'Spoons especially on the beer range and condition. The staff too are well trained and seem more numerous than in some JDW establishments. Sampled several beers in our group, all in very good condition, and in response to Florida (below) the Dark Start beers are back on the rear bar, and last night's range included 'Darkness' and Sambrook's Powerhouse Porter.
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Heaving full on a Saturday afternoon, but service was remarkably quick. Wide selection of real ales, but beware - the bar at the back doesn't serve all of them - check because if you order food and then find the bar doesn't have"your" ale, things get complicated!
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The George have had ales from Twickenham, Portobello, Triple fff,Tillingbourne, Surrey Hills, Sambrooks,Kissingate, Oakham, Dark Star and Thornbridge on recently. The staff are without exception polite,swift and unusually dedicated. It is probably better to put any ill conceived anti-'spoons prejudice to one side as this is an exceptional pub by any measure.
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Amazing place for real ale. Must be 15 or so handpumps. We had Dark Star Darkness, and two from Tillingbourne brewery but could have spent hours there
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Oh and the little barmaid is cute!!
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Either somebody at the George has pi$$ed of DarkStar or somebody at DarkStar has offended the George!! Went to the back bar and nothing but Oakham!! Whilst Oakham produce a lovely pint nothing on today's selection was strong and dark. Had three greatly kept pints but all a little light in colour for my liking. Please remember us lovers of dark ales. Still a superb choice of ales and fair prices
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Rude staff. Rude manager. Not the friendliest of welcomes. Won't return despite nice beer.
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Cavernous JD pub with two distinct drinking areas, one mainly for food. Fantastic range of ales with showcases given to Oakham and Dark Star beers on my visit. Also tried two new keg beers brewed by Marstons; a craft lager which was very distinctive and creamy, plus an American style IPA called Shipyard, which is brewed with the help of a brewer from Portland, USA. All the usual Wetherspoons features. Well worth the visit!
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Brewmason, Y E O V I L. perhaps your username should be INBRED from BRASTED.
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To unmiff the slerp just change his nappy once and a while.
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Vic seems to have miffed poor old slerpy - the only chap in the UK who drinks Greensands bitter from Yoevil brewery (and has to tell us all about it!)
Sadly neither drink nor brewery exists....
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I think you have proven my purpose ,tradervic, you have read my post and found it worthy enough to make a comment. Perhaps you could try a positive post for once instead of being a silly troll but as you know F*** A** trolling is the zenith of your abilities.
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Old slerpy feels he must update us on pub staff changes.....
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No news for ages and then like buses it appears over the horizon in pairs,The Manager of the Green Dragon buys a tenancy and the Manager of the George leaves, optimistically they will be replaced by others who are champing at the bit to make their mark, as always there is only so long that anyone can do a job and give it maximum enthusiasm, a lot to thank them for all in all.
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Some great beers on this week - Oakham, Darkstar, Thornbridge, Tillingbourne, Portobello, Twickenham, Tripple fff, Sambrooke, Surrey Hills and Cronx.
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It's a disgrace that Wetherspoons closed The Ship of Fools, hope they are looking to open another pub in the West Croydon area, the business is there for them. In the meantime The George is doing a great job of filling the void.
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A range of beers from the new Portobello Brewery have been on recently alongside Surrey Hills,Tillingbourne, Oakham ( Attilla etc) , Dark Star (Victorian Ruby Mild , Genesis etc) , Rudgate, Kelham , Thornbridge,By the Horns and the wonderful Croydon Cronx, their single hop which was brewed using galaxy hops was extremely good indeed.
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Shut it, slerpy, you twat.
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I've just read Klingon1's post, having tried many Clarence and Fredericks ales I must say the vast majority have been undrinkable and none have been anywhere near decent. Thank God for Cronx !
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On Monday the 18th March 2013 Wetherspoons put the price of premium ales up by 40 pence, anticipating the budget. The budget CUT beer duty by 1pence and scrapped the beer duty escalator on beer( not wine or cider). After closing the highly profitable Ship Of Fools in anticipation of further riots that did not materialise I seriously worry about the judgment of this pub chain. Premium ales are now £2.65, Dark Star Imperial Russian Stout was on recently at £2.50 per half.
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Just had the Smoked Red from Clarence & Fredericks. What a god dam awful beer.
But don't be alarmed there are some stunning beers on as well from Tillingbourne a new IPA @4.8 portobello and many in there's including Dark Star Imperial stout @ 10.4
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By the Horns Brewery beers will soon be on here, The Bobby on the Wheat may cause a few questions as to why it is cloudy but wheat beers are. Also the Art of Darkness will be on soonish.
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Decent 'Spoons with an excellent choice of ales as previously stated.
I understand the Manager has really turned this pub around and with the beer choice alone it deserves to be in the 2013 pub guide
My first visit was at 9am on a Saturday morning while on my way to football, the breakfast was good and probably better than a lot of other 'Spoons breakfast I had.
My choice of drink was Falls Gold from the Tillingbourne brewery, it poured slowly but tasted fine.
I'm sure as the time wears on during the day this pub fills up nicely but it's a decent pub and I'm sure I will return on numerous occasions over the next 6 months to tick some more beers off the extensive list
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Cronx Entire stout on yesterday, more Cronx ales to follow , Kipling is back( plus several Oakham ,and Dark Stars) and I'm reliably Informed that Thornbridge's January special will be on in.....................January.
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Oakham IPA. On at 9%!!
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On Saturday as I was leaving The George I noticed a couple of Handpump clips pasted onto the board , they were from Cronx Brewery so they will be on here shortly, Croydon's first Brewery for some time brew excellent beers, being in here will help the Brewery as the footfall through such a large pub will bring them to the attention of far more drinkers.
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The following will be on in The George over Christmas period and New Year alongside a few from the traditional Xmas list.
Thornbridge
Jaipur
Kipling
Brother Rabbit
Wild Swan
Sequoia
Black Harry
Lord Marples
Oakham
JHB
Scarlet Macaw
Bishops Farewell
Citra
Black Hole Porter
Inferno
Dreamcatcher
Attila
Green Devil IPA
Winter Wraith (Oakademy of excellence beer)
Surrey Hills
Ranmore
Shere Drop
Albury Ruby
Darkstar
Hophead
Festival
Revelation
Rockstar
Winter Meltdown
APA
Tillingbourne
Black Troll
Falls Gold
A.O.N.B
The Source
Kissingate
Extreme Stout
Black Cherry Mild
Smelter's Stout
Sambrooke
Junction
Powerhouse Porter
Pumphouse Pale Ale
Exmoor Gold
Exmoor Xmas
Kelham Pale Rider
Abbot Reserve
I Imagine Klingon will concur with that lot !
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I concur with Slerpy the Rock star an American brown ale at 6.0 is very good
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The George had Rock Star on yesterday the collaborative beer brewed with Magic Rock, an American brown ale, extremely hoppy as anyone familiar with the two brewers involved would expect.
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DARKSTAR GREEN HOPPED IPA @ 6.5
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The wife did thankyou very much little man,now back to your "Dark" world.
Be appy.
anonymous - 13 Oct 2012 18:06 |
Percy Sledge, Did you enjoy your trip to the Ladies loo in the Wellesley ,Waterloo? You transvestite! Mind your nail varnish typing on BITE !
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Not sure `The slurp` knows what a pub looks like,his head is soooo far up his own backside his world is `Dark`.
anonymous - 11 Oct 2012 11:59 |
Ales this week include the usual Darkstar beers, Jaipur, Oakham JHB, Scarlet Macaw, Green Devil IPA, Inferno, Dreamcatcher, Citra, Bishops Farewell. Surrey Hills Greensand IPA, Ranmore and Shere Drop. Tillingbourne Black Troll, Falls Gold and A.O.N.B. Coming next week is Darkstar Green Hopped IPA and various Cronx beers. Thursday 25th October The George will host Oakham brewery in a meet the brewer evening which will feature beers upto 9.0%!! Also Darkstar "Rock Star" will be on sale soon which is a collaboration with Magic Rock brewery.
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The Meet the Brewer is indeed on the 25th October which is a Thursday.
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In here looking for "The Slerp" the other day, quite a few down and outs about not sure which one was him, so left.
Be appy.
anonymous - 31 Aug 2012 12:37 |
On a less personal note, the manager advised me last week that the "Meet the brewer" event at the George is to be held on Thursday 25th October (not the 26th). May be worth double-checking but I'm pretty confident in this so anyone who is interested should take note.
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He`s found his level tempest.
anonymous - 26 Aug 2012 19:13 |
Top, middle or bottom, bars! We can always rely on the slerp to do JDW's promotional work.
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Sitting in the middle watching the enormous t.v. but using the bottom bar as the fantastic Oakham ales were on. Oakham Ales will be here for a" Meet the Brewer" on the 26th October, look out for the curries that evening, hopefully something special.
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Visited earlier this week. What a superb range of beers on from Oakhams through to Dark Star. And the usual Wetherspoons value both for beer and food (it was Tuesday steak night). Although the pub is a little faded and could do with some TLC the staff make up for it by being very pleasant and attentive. Well worth a visit for the excellent beer range � a long detour if necessary: this is probably the best Wetherspoons in the country?
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Well, obviously, slerpy was in the front bar then!
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This is a large pub with the usual tattooed, beer bellied and baseball capped clientele some of whom are, believe it or not, in their 50s and 60s. The conversation, which is loud, ranges from the banal to the pointless and is usually heard from the ubiquitous groups of old plonkers that are the most striking feature of Wetherspoons pubs . However, there is another bar at the back which is largely dedicated to eating and the atmosphere is rather more civilised. There is usually a good range of beers on sale and the staff are proficient. If only Tim Martins were to introduce a more up-market chain in addition to those currently on offer, it would be of great service to those who prefer a more commodious place to drink in.
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The choice lookwd good yesterday with three Oakhan ales on, Jhb, Bishop's Farewell and Inferno, others to come on soon including Scarlet Macaw.
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HELLO THERE SLERPY!
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Beer prices down at all WS. What this will mean for choice remains in the lap of the gods.
Wibbles apprentice @3.9 is a nice session beer for the sunshine. Is that the kiss of death for the weather.
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Back in to have some more Stonehenge. Great beer the service in this WS is the best I've come across, even though it's my local.
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What to try something different ? Stonehenge, sign of spring 4.6 and green. Very very good
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I love this pub and am a regular. Always a good selection of Ales that taste great, and looked after. The bar staff are also friendly.
Keep it up guys!
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Thornbridge Wild Swan, Brother Rabbit, Ashford, Jaipur, Kipling and Lord Marples.
Surrey Hills, Kissingate, Sambrooke, Tillingbourne, Twickenham and Darkstar beer on over the next two weeks
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Jim. Slerpy was a good (albeit biased) reviewer who now concentrates on attacking far too many people - as already mentioned on here.
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I don't understand the Slerpy-bashing that appears on here, the George is a cut above most JDW's for choice of ales.
SillySam normally writes a load of gibberish, but the latest quote on here is brilliant, very amusing.
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Twas brilliant and the Speckled Hen.
Did gire and gimble in the George.
All tasty were the sausages
And the wethered spoons outgrabbe.
Beware the Fraddlewok my son
The George that cask, the claws that marque
Beware the Slerpy bird and shun
The frothulous thrappedouser.
Its fradledaddledoodly.
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And, btw, slerpy - Chamberlain first uttered those words in September 1938, at Heston...
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Dare I say that I think that the Slerper has become quite entertaining albeit bordering on the manic. Long may the disinformation continue.
Yours,
An underage CHAV !
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Slerpy berates posters for their spelling, holding on to boring jobs, commenting on his past posts, lack of beer knowledge etc. etc. Everyone else is a troll! Please stay in Croydon slerpy - where you are well known and avoided.
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My post that you so keenly quote was from 2008 only a complete and utter ignoramus would quote something as old as that. In 1936 the Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned from Munich telling the nation that Adolf was a very good chap and would honour " Peace in our Time" three years later affairs had taken a different course. Please act your age and do not quote a post so many years later, a very babyish stunt. I actually expected more of a defence not a vindication of my initial suspicions.You will now have to justify exemplary.
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Slerpy, you have now proved once and for all that you are an utter idiot, and are in danger of bringing CAMRA into disrepute. Before you say that I am doing the same, note that I am not a CAMRA member.
1. My job is not boring and I have an exemplary employment record.
2. The Glamorgan is one of the best pubs in the local area for real ale - its entry in the current Good Beer Guide confirms this.
3. A while back you wrote about the Glamorgan: "Having had a meal here recently I must say that this is the pick of Croydon's pubs for food ( o.k. a tad pricey), a few decent real ales as well".
So you are inconsistent as well.
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Beerlover666 another internet troll no mark who has just about clung on to his boring job, uses the Oval and Glamorgan, two of the worst pubs for real ale in the Borough! You have never made a worthwhile comment in all the time you,ve been on here, SHAME !
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Dementer, spot on! One advantage of slerpy's ubiquitous, boring and asinine posts is that they give an indication of which pubs he visits, so we may avoid...
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Most JDW's do not sell Tillingbourne and Kissingate ales as you stated in your post of the 20thMarch , I met both Brewers last week and they simply do not have the brewing capacity to supply MOST of a pub estate that numbers over 800 outlets nationwide. As usual you are wasting everyones time especially your own.
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Yes, fine examples of Kissingate and Tillingbourne (brewed at nearby Shere) are available at The Sun - and, Dementer, I see what you mean!
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So , Tillingbourne beers and Kissingate beers are available in the Sun at Redhill, its o.k. to be a troll but try to not puff the weed prior to doing so! Hilarious! The condition of the ales in the Sun are verging on undrinkable!
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Good point trader but leave the slerpy one alone as we want him to stay in Croydon and not annoy us elsewhere.
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All of the beersmentioned in the last (half dozen or so) posts are available at most JDW's - includind The Sun in Redhill. JDW already shove this information down our necks; why repeat it all on here? Just in case we miss it in the pubs, magazines, newspaper ads and websites?
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For the next few days six ales will be available on stillage bringing the total number available to twenty-two ( plus five ciders), the two main Tillingbourne Ales will be on this evening but will doubtlessly run out quickly as the Brewer is there for a talk , the foregoing is not intended as a review but information for those seriously interested in matters brewing and rel ale.
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Oakham JHB AND Thornbridge Jaipur AND Darkstar Revelation...Ambassador...you are spoiling us!
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The George are holding two events next week, Thursday 15th March there is a "Meet the Brewer" with Tillingbourne Brewery and a similar event with Kissingate Brewery on the following day (Friday 16th) both events commence at 19:30hrs. CAMRA members might find it useful to remember their card.
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Stargazer from Yeovil, Klingers old chap do you like it? The Yeovil ales are very sought after in the West Country. Not many good brown ales around, most are nowadays Pitch black or of a golden hue.
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I know I said get to the George. But you did not need to drink all of it :-( star gazer from Yeovil on plus other Surrey hills beers and all the usual beers.
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GET TO THE GEORGE!! The Surrey hills Geensands IPA is on this is a good IPA at 4.6 still not listed on your round. A very good beer
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There's no questioning that the management know what they're doing now in terms of beer; the range and quality of cask at the George is now possibly the most consistent of all in the centre of town, with only the Green Dragon rivalling successfully. I just hope Steve doesn't move on too soon as this may all alter overnight once his leadership is lost.
The ale's ace. But has nobody else noticed that the quality of the barmaids is now pretty high too? Most of them look the part certainly, and actually talk to you as well. But, even better than this, they can pour your beer properly! All one needs in a woman really...
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Sambrook's Brewery Powerhouse Porter, Kipling, Jaipur ( Thornbridge), three Dark Stars on the back bar namely Revelation, Festival and Hophead. Several guest ales on the front bar including the regular JHB and Twickenham Naked Ladies. All 'spoons are currently offering two meals for �6.49 from a selection of six selected meals.
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Sorry I'm going to take that back about the Revelation. It's rather nice.
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Woodfords Admiral reserve @ 5% on nice but you will have to watch yourself with this one. Twickers Naked ladies 4.4 Thrappedouser 4.3 the Haka is on again 5.2 plus lots over over beers to try. Trying the Dark star Revelation again. Hold that thought. ....well I know I like IPA but this a bit bitter for my taste. But it must be selling as they just got 5 barrels in. Say no more this is 5.7 and still reminds me of the original Japiur.
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Do you even know what "Kelham"is Wealdman? Maybe you should research the word to realise it is a brewery, and that the beer needs to actually be ordered in order to sell it in any one public house
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Crud, just 'cos you're a beer berk (see your posts of 2/12 & 21/8/11 - too much information!) does not mean you are always right. Are you calling the famous slerpy a liar? I, too, had a Kelham yesterday - and am very glad I'm not a beer expert. Better things to do...
Perhaps, if you had a lie down in a dark room and had a long chat with yourself - you may feel better. And stay off the Double Diamond!
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Another person who knows their beers......did you enjoy your imaginary Kelham beer with your imaginary blonde sitting on your knee?
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Well crud, I had a Kelham today!
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WJ kings IPA on @ 5.2 tastes a little woody for me will have to try again. Surry hills Greensands IPA is on the money. Dark Star milk chocolate stout quit moorish Lots of other beers on.
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Randolf7.....im very interested to know how you came to sample Hepworth and Kelham beers in The George as you have below stated seen as these beers have not yet been on sale THIS year?! You obviously know your beers............
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Slerpy brings his notebook. But, you will note does not comment on ANY beer quality. Kelham and Hepworth tasted today like the urine of a dehydrated monkey, although I am unable to to be completely sure...
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Normally the George have three or four Dark Star ales out of the SEVENTEEN handpumps, you really don't have to like Dark Star ales as there are clearly SO many others to choose from , Thornbridge , Oakham, Locales and others( Sambrooks, Twickenham, Surrey Hills, Hepworth, Hog's Back, Hammerpot, Alton, Dorking, Kings etc) and the Wetherspoons latest list( Holdens, Kelham, Cairngorm,Slaters, Caledonian, O'Hanlons etc etc etc) are prominent.Very few pubs showcase as many different ales as the George over the span of a year.I have never seen a Wetherspoons match this for range or quality.
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Well worth a visit, one of the better Wetherspoons. If you like Dark Star Ales then this is the place for you, the top bar often has four or five of them on at any one time.
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Here is a new one. Slaters HAKA New Zealand pale ale @ 5.2 👍
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New Dark Star beer on REVELATION @5.7 really bitter. You will need to try this I found it like the original Jaipur.
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The George have ordered two new ales from Dark Star Brewery , Revelation 5.7%, apparently this is the extremely hoppy ale that the brewer has wanted to produce for years( for commercial reasons the A.P.A. was thought to be more marketable) and the fact that it is on the breweries permanently available list speaks volumes.The other is Milk Chocolate Stout 4.5%, both should be available as from Saturday the 14th January.�2.55 and �2.40 a pint respectively, great value.
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Festive cheer at the Goerge. All ales in good condition although Iissed the Thornbridge Sequer
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N.B. the Imperial Russian Stout 10.5% is usually found in bottles only, on Friday 9th December 2011 it will be on hanpump, I have seen it on gravity at the odd Festival so this is a very rare event indeed. It will ONLY be served in HALF PINT glasses, common sense really! Mark the head brewer at Dark Star drank the original Courage I.R.S. as a student and a few years ago decided to recreate the hangovers of former years, his version is better to my mind.
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Beers on for the next 2 weeks:
Thornbridge - Jaipur, Kipling, Sequoia, Wild Swan, Brother Rabbit, Lord Marples
Darkstar - Hophead, APA, Festival, Winter Meltdown, Smoked Porter, Imperial Russian Stout @ 10.5% - (IRS will be on sale Friday 9th ONLY)
Surrey Hills - Albury Ruby, Ranmore Ale, Shere Drop
Sambrooke - Powerhouse Porter, Junction Ale
Twickenham - Winter Warmer, Naked Ladies, Sundancer, Winter Cheer
Oakham - JHB
Kelham Island - Pale Rider
Greene King - Abbot Reserve
Plus many Christmas special ales too
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Thornbride beers range from Summer Ale with ginger and sage, Raven, Lord Marples, Kipling, Jaipur, Wild Swan, Chiron, Seaforth.
Oakham beer range from Black Hole Porter, Inferno, Tranquility, Bishops Farewell, JHB, CITRA
Darkstar beers range from Hophead, APA, Festival, Hylder Blonde, IPA
All on Saturday 24th Sept
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The previously mentioned Brewery trip is now fuly booked. The beer list below should have included four more Thornbridge ales-Brother Rabbit, Browne, Seaforth 5.9% and Raven 6.6%, the vast majority of thse ales have never been available in Croydon before and are well worth trying.The Oakham CITRA was on particularly fine form today.
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Had a nice breakfast in here yesterday and a few pints of abbot which was good . service was quick
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Had a nice breakfast in here yesterday and a few pints of abbot which was good . service was quick
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In yesterday lunch, Jaipur slightly hazy replaced with another pint, same thing, replaced with an excellent Hepworth's Prospect (had a few!) all handled professionally and without any fuss. Well done!
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Arriving soon for the Beer Festival at The George: 15th Sept-25th Sept
Oakham beers
JHB 3.8%
Bishops Farewell 4.6%
White Dwarf 4.3%
Inferno 4%
Citra 4.2%
Endless Summer 3.4%
Black Hole Porter 5.5%
Oblivion 5.7%
Green Devil 6%
Tranquility 6.5%
Thornbridge beers
Jaipur 5.9%
Kipling 5.2%
Wild Swan 3.5%
Lord Marples 4%
Chiron 5%
Browne 4.3%
Sequoia 4.5%
Galaxia 5.2%
Darkstar beers
Hophead 3.8%
Festival 5%
APA 4.7%
Hylder Blonde 4.2%
Summer Meltdown 4.8%
India Pale Ale 6.2%
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Twickers beers on. Naked lady also Hornet both at 4.4 personally I think the Hornet is outstanding. Also Sambrooks Pale @4.2 and if you are a Dark Star fan there first fruit beer Saville @ 4.0 + various other ales.
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The George have a very special Beer Festival from the 10th-25th September2011, it will feature just three breweries, Thornbridge, Oakham and Dark Star,every possible ale from these three will be on over the two weeks. The other three Central Croydon 'spoons will be doing the same.Many ales that have never been available in Croydon before will appear.Some of the stronger ales will be an absolute bargain, such as the Dark Star IPA 6.2%.
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Family run pubs are almost non-existant in town centres - where JDW almost only operate. Yes, I would prefer an old style family run pub too; JDW's are by no means perfect! But, undoubtedly, they have stolen a march on a sleepy UK pub industry. The seven other pups in my Surrey town will open at noon; by then, the local JDW will have been trading for 4 hours.
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Glad you made money,but spoons aren`t real pub`s they are just warehouse`s with a certain sort of custom give me a family run pub anytime.
Why are other pubs closing because there local drinkers are going to cheap plastic place`s like spoons.
Bah humbug
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Nuff...hope you're not seen dead in a JDW - the most successful UK pub group getting on to 1,000 pubs (in only 30 years) and with a �1b+ turnover. This when other pubs are closing at a rate of 400/500 a year! You don't think they're doing something right? I bought a new car by selling a few of my 'spoon' shares...
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Would not be seen dead in a `Spoons`
Slerpy I think you`ve found your level,god bless `The Lemon Party`
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The George have a Brewery trip to Surrey Hills Brewery on the 24/9/2011, the price includes a bacon bap on arrival at the George ,the coach trip to the Brewery includes beer sampling on a grand scale.The coach stops at the Jolly Coopers Epsom on return.On arrival back at the George a free pint on the house and and a few nibbly bits completes the day.It coste �25-00 per head and must be booked in advance at the pub ( numbers are limited so book early).This will be the third Brewery trip that the George have laid on and the previous two have been wonderfully successful.
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Next week the first ever fruit flavoured ale from Dark Star will be available,Seville ( yes, oranges) at 5%.
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Is there a better weatherspoons ? if there is i have yet to find it superb beers all well presented , friendly staff , meal excellent.
If only they were all as good as this , a must visit if in the area.
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Last weekend for summer cider festival and there is traditional scrumpy and plenty fruity ciders available
Addlestones cloudy %5.0, sheppy's farmhouse drought %6.0, Devon scrumpy %6.0, festival special perry %6.0, broadoak perry %7.5, cider twist rasberry %4.0, strawby cider %4.0
Ales
Jaipur %5.9, kipling %5.2, Surrey hills share drop %4.2, Twickenham hornet %4.4, from acorn brewery Kashmir %4.7, Caledonian double twist %4.6, oakham ales jhb %3.8, dark star hophead %3.8, apa %4.7, festival %5.0
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I like Fosters.
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I fully concur with Beerwulf,I went to the George last night for the cheap Tuesday steak deal and we went through several ales before trying the Kipling and we were very impressed with it ,lots of fruity flavours and at 5.2% not as potent as the Jaipur. The other 'spoons in Croydon have twigged the success of the George and are starting to stock some of the big selling ales such as Japur and Hophead. Interesting to see the price list displayed openly on the Real Ale board, in most pubs it is hard to find a price list and often there isn't one but at these prices proudly displaying the prices makes a lot of sense.
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Totally agree with tone of recent comments: the CAMRA award for this outstanding Wetherspoons is well-deserved and a tribute to the excellent manager and his staff. The beer range is tremendous and the selection will satisfy the most demanding palate. Great to see that Thornbridge Kipling is appearing frequently at the George: IMO the best beer that Thornbridge offer. I doubt if there are many, if any, better JDW pubs for the real ale enthusiast in the land...
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Just had a pint of the Surrey hills IPA @ 4.6 now this is a nice beer. Also Brewsters rutterkin @ 4.6 also very good. Got my Hoppy head on today by the way the Surrey hills IPA is called Greensand. Look out for it.
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Sambrooks pale ale @ 4.2 bit thin but not bad
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Yes I'm back!
Two beers that Ive tried today are the Trio [email protected] & the Pale rider @ 5.2 both in good condition.
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I went along to the George last night for the CAMRA Pub of the Year presentation, the George won two awards the Croydon pub of the Year and The combined Croydon &Sutton Pub of the Year. I predicted great things for the George about eighteen months ago and some posters had doubts which have been proven false by the splendid range of eighteen handpumps and the pick of the best ales that the U.K. has to offer in fantastic condition. The new Greensands Way ale from Surrey hills was a tremendous success and was compared to a weaker version of Jaipur by a few people ( praise indeed). Including the pub of the Season last year three awards in a year, well done to the Manager and staff.
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Great Darkstar Ales selection continues with Hophead %3.8, Victorian Ruby Mild %6.0, Summer Meltdown %4.8, American Pale Ale %4.7,
At the bottom bar amazing Surrey Hills beers Share Drop %4.2 and Ranmore Ale %3.8 is on. Dorking Brewery Red India Ale %5.0, Jennings Sneck Lifter %5.1, WJ King brewery IPA %5.2, Dark Munro %4.0, Oakham Ales JHB %3.8, and last and best Thornbridge Jaipur %5.9.
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SEVENTEEN HAND PUMPS IN HERE SERVING 15 DIFFERENT BEERS. (Last Sat 28/5)
As this is a JDW pub 4 are for GK Abbot & Ruddles rest all guests.
Most are �2.15 - �2.30 a pint. Front of pub has 11 but at the rear of this long
pub is another bar with 6 on. A must go if ever in Croydon.
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No HOPHEAD ????
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Beers on sale this week - Saltaire Trio Pale Ale, Phoenix Wobbly Bob, Cotswold Shagweaver, Oakham JHB, Thornbridge Jaipur, Crouch Vale Blackwater Mild, Highland Dark Munro, St Austell Black Prince, Hogsback Friday 13th, Jennings Snecklifter, RCH Pitchfork, Banks Ruby Mild, Hepworth Iron Horse, Pullman and Prospect, Sambrooke Junction, Titanic Nautical Mild, Caledonian Flying Dutchman, Exmoor Gold, Twickenham Sundancer, Tripple fff Altons Pride, Darkstar Victorian Ruby Mild, Darkstar, American Pale Ale, Darkstar Festival, Darkstar Summer Meltdown, Surrey Hills beers available Thursday 8pm for meet the brewer - Enjoy!! Festival Starts Thursday too
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arkstar brewery tour! Saturday 14th may 10am tour at the breweryale samplestransport and buffet at the local darkstar pubfind out [email protected]
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The George has a mild/locAle themed beer festival running 12th-22nd May including a brewery tour to Darkstar on 14th and a meet the brewer evening on Thursday 12th May at 8pm. Surrey Hills will feature their beers for the first time at The George. Other additions will include Oakham JHB, Thornbridge Jaipur, Darkstar beers, Twickenham beers and many more.......
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New Dark star beer on Mai Bock 5.6 very clean not sweet for the strength of this beer
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Nice pint of darkstar, but the service is terrible, and when you what serving it seems it is such effort for the staff. I only waited for a drink because i was meeting a friend to do a pub crawl.
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Darkstar beers - Hophead, American Pale Ale, Hophead Citra. Oakham JHB, Thornbridge Jaipur, Twickenham Naked Ladies, Burton Bridge Burton Porter, Oakleaf Pompey Royal, Saltaire Trio Pale Ale, Oakham Taipan, Phoenix Wobbly Bob - on on sale this week.
Thornbridge Kipling, Highland Dark Munro, Crouch Vale Victorian Ruby Mild, St Austell 2Black Prince and Surrey Hills beers coming soon.
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Polite request.Any pubs in the area selling Ballast Point Calico Amber.Thanks.
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Congrats the George for best pub of of the year !!
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Lots of beers. Now I could say what they are, but by the time I've finished this post they would have changed. But GO to the the top bar all the Dark Stars beers Inc Citra. @3.8
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Yes yes yes this is the biggest real ale FESTIVAL!!!!!!
Beers on today, Butcombe mendip spring 3.8%, Sambrook`s brewery wandle 3.8%, Titanic tug light mild 4.0%, jennings cocky blonde 4.0%, Brains milkwood 4.3%, Ginger tom 4.3%, Elgood`s spring challenge 4.3%, Skinner`s mousehole moonshine 4.3%, Zeunerts ale 4.5%, Oakham ales taipan 4.9%, Bloomin smoky 5.0%.
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Yes yes yes this biggest real ale FESTIVAL!!!!!!
Beers on today, Butcombe mendip spring 3.8%, Sambrook`s brewery wandle 3.8%, Titanic tug light mild 4.0%, jennings cocky blonde 4.0%, Brains milkwood 4.3%, Ginger tom 4.3%, Elgood`s spring challenge 4.3%, Skinner`s mousehole moonshine 4.3%, Zeunerts ale 4.5%, Oakham ales taipan 4.9%, Bloomin smoky 5.0%.
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Breaking news! The George to be the first WS pub to get Surrey hills beer. Watch this space.
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12 brand new handpumps installed and 2 extra handpumps installed too. Ales today include.......darkstar hophead, Oakham taipan, thornbridge Jaipur, skinners moonshine, queens plum treat, wells banana bread beer, elgoods spring challenge, robinsons Ginger Tom, zeunerts ale, feral the runt, big city Jamaica stout, ballast point calico Amber, lodewijks Dutch delight. ALL on sale today! - enjoy.
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Festival !! Beers changing faster than I can type. As Leslie Crowther would say" come on down"
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Hammerpot, Ascot and Oakham ales allon the money. The Oskham Taipan is in bloody good nick.
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If you like the Jaipur,I have been informed there will be a price change inthe next few weeks. The increase is not known at this present time. From the 23rd the beer festival starts.
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Twickenham Naked Ladies 4.4% O'Hanlons Port Stout 4.8% Darkstar Hophead 3.8% Darkstar American Pale Ale 4.7% Darkstar Winter Meltdown 5% Triple fff Comfortably Numb 5% Hogsback Spring Ale 4% Thornbridge Jaipur 5.9%
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As the feller said yesterday with 2 changers no twicker beer. Raven from Orkney @3.8 also the reserve gone now Exmoor Beast mmmm 6.6
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Darkstar selections @ top bar American Pale Ale 4.7%, Hophead 3.8%, Winter Meltdown 5.0%
Twickenham Naked Ladies 4.4%, Abbot Reserve 6.5%, Premium Bitter Slaters 4.4%, Camfell Flame 4.4%, Raven Ale 3.8%, Esb 5.5%, London pride 4.1%, Jaipur 5.9
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Beers on today brewsters Hop a Doodle doo 4.3% O'Halons port stout @ 4.8 Gamekeepers bitter @ 4.2 falling stone from Wold top 4.2 ( not had this before) and Slaters perm bitter @ 4.4 also dark star beers on at the top bar. Sorry not to mention the regular ales including the Jaipur :-)
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As I left the George today an Alton Brewery beer called Comfortably numb appeared,a 5.05 ale similar to Young's Winter Warmer at its very best.
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Darkstar selection gone amazing in George Six Hop Ale 6.5%, Winter Meltdown 5.0%, Festival 5.0% are next to come currently they have Hophead 3.8%, American Pale Ale 4.7 % @ top bar ales at buttom bar and little bit about them
Camfell Flame 4.4% ; chestnut coloured ale added wheat and Demerara sugar to create a full flavour beer.
Falling Stone 4.2%; chestnut coloured bitter full bodied with a bitter/sweet balance, dry finish.
Jolly Decent Wallop 5.2%; deep brown coloured premium beer .Lots of malt character with a hop balance.
Coyote 4.3%; straw coloured ale, well balanced malt and hop flavour.Crisp hoppy finish.
From Hammerport Madgwick Gold 5.0%; about this ale, why don t you go down to George and find out yourself ...
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I spoke to a manager yesterday and the Dark Star ales will appear on the back bar, both bars will have an extra handpump which will allow four Dark Star ales,Hophead will be a regular and the other three handpumps will host a variety of their ales.Dark star do a vast number of ales which the brewery list as ; permanent, seasonal and monthly ales they also brew"specials" such as the Mellissa Cole/Mark Tranter collaboration M &M and Thornstar a collaborative beer brewed with Thornbridge.
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like the sound of that s31,will be there saturday.
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London pride, fuller's ESB 5.5% vol, Thornbridge Jaipur 5.9%, twickenham sundancer 3.7% port stout 4.8% challenger IPA 5.0% exmoor beast 6.6% at the bottom bar hophead 3.8%, darkstar festival 5.0% american pale ale 4.7% at the top bar
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Dark Star APA is on and very nice it is too. Plus a Welsh beer which is written allin welsh @ 4 plus Twickes beers
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London pride, fuller's ESB 5.5% vol, Thornbridge Jaipur 5.9%, everards beacon 3.8%, kingsdown special ale 5.0%, sambrook's power house 4.9%, Thornbridge Kipling 5.2%, from Hogs back brewery RIP 5.0%at the bottom bar hophead 3.8%, darkstar festival 5.0% at the top bar
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Ruddles best, abbot ale,London pride, fuller's ESB 5.5% vol, Thornbridge Jaipur 5.9%, twickenham Sundancer 3.7%, darkstar meltdown 5.0%, sambrook's power house 4.9%, Thornbridge Kipling 5.2%, from Oxfordshire ales silver medal winner marshmellows 4.9% and now they do darkstar hophead 3.9%, darkstar festival 5.0% at the top bar champion golden ale darkstar American pale ale is available very soon at this bar again.
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Challenger IPA, Hop a Doodle doo, RIP on amongst all the normal beers. But Raven Ale @ 3.8 in on from Orkney. This award winning ale from scotland is worth a look.
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Ossian ale from Inveralmond has gone. Dark Star Festival and Exmoor Beast are now on. The Dark Star Hophead has moved permanently to the back bar.A hundred seater garden is due to open on the 1st July 2011.
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The changes to last night the Beast & Kingsdown have gone and been replaced with TEA and Inveralmond Ossian. @4.1
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No scotish beers on at the mo. But Along with the normal beers we have Exmoor beast @ 6.6 not for the faint hearted. Brewsters hop a doodle doo. @4.3 Arkells kingsdown special ale @ 5 which was my first tipple for me this evening. This this the first time I have had this ale and for me is a little thin. But hey ho it tastes good. The yeovil ruby is still on @ 4.5 and Thornbridge Kipling @ 5.2. There is also Pride, ESB & the Jaipur
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Today the guest ales were,Jolly Good Wallop ( an exclusive ale to 'spoons) from Brentwood Brewery featuring a picture of Jimmy Edwards in spanking mode,Kipling,Beacon from Everards, Winter Meltdown and Festival both from Dark Star Brewery.Every ale that I tried was in excellent condition,the Meltdown was clearly a new barrel and the best ale of the day.On Wednesday(19/1/2011) the week long Burn's Festival starts with an amazingly good choice of Scottish ales, two from Caledonian, Raven,Wildcat, Lomond Gold etc.There is an offer on Haggis 'tatty and Neaps including a pint at �4.49 if memory serves me correctly.
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5 new beers on. Chuffin ale, 4% meltdown 5% acorns challenger 5% Yeovil Ruby 4.5% and O Hankins porter 4.8% take your pick
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Surprisingly this was a lot busier than the Milan bar (Lloyds) round the corner on a Saturday night. Also, it's handy and cheaper for breakfast if you're staying at the travelodge or Jurys inn nearby.
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Sorry while I've been here Brewster:- hop a doddle doo @ 4.3 just come on.
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Beers on today. Exmoor Emas, Dorking No1, Thornbridge Kipling & Fullers ESB. Plus the standard beers hophead Jaipur and pride
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Voluminous JDW pub with 2 bars; beer range was excellent as was my Thornbridge Jaipur IPA - which was free as I wasn't buying the round.
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Can't really fault this pub, it's in the GBG and rightly so. A large range of real ales costing �2 or �2.15, the beers we had were very well kept and the service at the bar was fairly quick (although it was a Saturday afternoon). The usual JDW cavernous pub, tables, tables everywhere but not a place to sit, a victim of its own success. Can't understand the BITE rating probably hampered by previous ratings when it wasn't so good perhaps?
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The races raindeer still on. Beers been added are as follows Dark star winter meltdown @ 5%, Salopian Christmas rapping 5% and Brains SA. Also the Dark star beers Hophead & Festival oh and drum role Thprnbrige Jaipur. What to have?
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Darkstar festival back on. And very good it is too. With Raucous raindeer @4.5 , DB No 1 and a new barrel of the Abbots reserve. Which I did try yesterday. Very good 9/10
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Having a very good breakfast at �2.10 and the hop head is on the money. No winter meltdown on at the moment. Abbots reserve is on at 6.5 bit early in the day for that though :-)
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The Dark Star ales have been popular, so further ales from them will be available.Winter Meltdown on this Saturday, a very pleasing offering at �2.15 !
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Darkstar beers yes! Fantastic! Hop Head & Festival now on as permanent beers. What with the Thornbridge IPA this is fast becoming a great watering hole. Lookout also for the rotation of guest ales. All which are kept in super condition. 5/5
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The George have added Dark Star Breweries Hophead and Festival to their other regular ale Thornbridge's Jaipur.
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The 'spoons Beer Festival is on until the 14th November, the ales are reduced to �1.79. I have tried the Caledonian Edinburgh Strong Ale 6.4 %, Brewdog Edge and Thornbridge Lumford (3.9%) which a bit like a weaker Kipling , certainly these were the pick. Bath's Ginger Hare was very similar to Dark Star's Summer Meltdown. I am still looking out for the Mordue Coriander Ale( which might be interesting).The beer that was not to my taste was the Lees Brewery Chocaholic it was like a liquid easter egg, truly an acquired taste, certainly one that I won't acquire ! I just know that someone will say that it's truly wonderful.
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Popped in on Tuesday before the England game. Slightly disappointing range of ales by the Georges high standards a few pumps were off.
Had a well served pint of Fullers ESB which was expensive for a spoons �2.65.
Pub was busy yet got served quickly and efficiently. The George remains on my list of pubs to visit as I can usually find a beer i've never had or haven't had for a while. Never had a problem with a pint here.
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Cider drinkers, your prayers have been answered! The George now stocks five ciders, there is a cider menu located on the back , some are displayed on the handpumps but enquire if your chosen cider is not on a pump clip as it is quite likely to be available, I drank a pint of the strawberry flavoured cider the other day and it was only �2.20.The o.g. available ranges from 4.0%- 8.4%.
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The George have a truly wonderful selection for the next month or three, Caledonian Mellow Yellow and Deuchars IPA, Thornbridge Jaipur and Kipling,Kelham Island 45 RPM,Brewsters Hophead,Summerskill's Ninja, RCH Old Slug Porter, Greene King XX( runner up in the mild category at the GBBF), Woodforde's Wherry,St. Austell Proper Job,Inveralmond Lia Fail,Phoenix Navvy,Moorhouse's Blonde Witch and several locales from Dorking, Twickenham,Sambrooks etc.As you enter the middle pump of the left bank of pumps is always a dedicated Locale .Only eight on at anyone time!
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The George has a Locale Beer Festival starting on Monday for two weeks many ales previously not featured in a 'spoons OR Croydon Borough are available. food wise two pork sausages in a chiabatta roll at �1.99 complement the regular Oakham JHB and Thornbridge Jaipur.Yesterday the Brewster's Hophead was in excellent condition and completely unaffected by the extreme hot spell.The Acorn Barnsley Gold is also worthy of comment it was quite similar to the Inveralmond Thrappledouser which regularly features at The George.CAMRA's Pub of the Season this Summer continues to set the bar for Central Croydon with regard to real ale quality.
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It's nice to hear from two illiterate ex-patrons! I promise to keep you updated as and when anything newsworthy takesplace. O'Hanlons Firefly a particular favourite of mine is due on very soon.Don't forget the PUB of THE SEASON will be awarded to The George next week, worth being in Croydon just for that!
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I'm wiv you there 62. He's an argumentative little cus int he? He says he's reviewed over 300 pubs, but if you take a look, nearly all of them are in Croydon (or thereabouts) except when he has a day at the seaside.
My guess is that he's electronically tagged and has to be indoors by sundown, except when he's on a charabang outing with matron and the others.
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It is sad to see a rather silly tiff emerging around the George of all pubs, as it is has always been a fairly average JDW venue. It has had its ups and downs over the 17 years it has traded, but is now mercifully on a steadier course thanks to Steve, the current manager, who has done wonders with the cask ale side, and generally seems to have elevated the quality of both the product and the fabric of the place, if not to excellence then to acceptability. He has also employed slightly more efficient staff to keep the pub running smoothly, although I do still witness unfortunate hiatuses between customer arrival and service, and certain staff suffer more with moodswings than others. But that said, so do its clientele, who remain "mixed" at best, and while most usually behave sociably, there are certain individuals, and contingents of people, who are not pleasant, and who must present considerable challenges to the management.
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear as they say, but in its defence I think the present George team seem to have done their best to maximise its strengths and suppress weaknesses, and more so than in some other Wetherspoon outlets. And as for other "cheap" alternatives such as the Goose.... It has to be this pub every time for anyone with any discernment.
Now then. Play nicely children....
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Soap v slerpy
Slerpy gets very upset about bad things being said about the George,
the staff are rude, place is always untidy, what makes me laugh THE GEORGE has installed the largest television he has ever seen, maybe he should go to other pubs. In Slerpy eyes the George does no wrong no pub is perfect,give it a rest about the George YOU ARE GETTING BORING. He is on the payroll at the George or someone is giving him A FEW FREE DRINKS. soap i like your points slerpy move around abit there is more to life than the George.
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Soap v slerpy
Slerpy gets very upset about bad things being said about the George,
the staff are rude, place is always untidy, what makes me laugh THE GEORGE has installed the largest television he has ever seen, maybe he should go to other pubs. In Slerpy eyes the George does no wrong no pub is perfect,give it a rest about the George YOU ARE GETTING BORING. He is on the payroll at the George or someone is giving him A FEW FREE DRINKS. soap i like your points slerpy move around abit there is more to life than the George.
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Personaly I do not wish to turn this into a SOAP opera, unlike your unfullfilled promise of brevity I will try to be extremely brief ! The facts are that the George has been voted Pub of the Season by CAMRA,the local branch have about 1,200 members and some of those voted to award the George this prestigous accolade. you clearly had a disturbing incident with a barperson,I have had no such experience, I have encountered the best range and quality of ales for many a mile.I have met CAMRA members from further afield who ask me " Why is it that thier local 'spoons fails to match up to the George?",I honestly do not know the answer.The usual channel for a complaint like yours is to contact the Duty Manager,if you are not satisfied at that level contact the General Manager.Perhaps you should abandon the place as a watering hole,if you still in some masochistic way insist on using a pub that is so fundamentally abbhorent to you then perhaps you should contact- Dear Diedre in "The Sun". On balance i'd rather you NOT " seek me out" as I have only just managed to evade my last stalker.
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Wow, that rebuff kinda takes patronising to another level doesn't it Slerpy? I guess I stand corrected.
I'll try and be brief so as you get to the finer points this time, but obviously us average bunch of well bathed 30/40 something females & males need to spread our net wider if we're to see that The George is actually the most successful pub in Croydon, who'd have thought?
We only really normally go to either The Oval, The Dog & Bull, The Standard, The Green Dragon, The Ship, The Tamworth Arms, Davey's Wine Bar, The Black Sheep, The Porter & Sorter, The Gun, The Spreadeagle, The Crown & Pepper, The Scream Lounge, The Skylark, The Swan & Sugarloaf and four or five more which I'm afraid I'm so clueless and unseasoned as a reviewer as to actually remember the names of off the bat, but all of which I'm afraid to report one more time if you're still reading Slerpy, haven't had bar staff that have verbally abused me for asking a simple question about bar policy, oh, and the place was practically empty as far as it's popularity went on this occasion.
You may also want to address some of the other things I've written about that we've seen there and defend them with the same unbiased level headedness too, you're presumably not or never have been a manager of anywhere that deals with the general public would I be right in thinking?
I take it also that everyone else in the thread who mentions it is also talking hokum about the rudeness and ineffectiveness of the staff at The George?
Finally, I applaud your constant one-upmanship in replying to every negative post about the place, it makes absolute sense that someone would spend so much time posting to the opposite if they had no interest in the place other than popping in once or twice a week for that weeks special ales.
Finally, anyone instating their patronage to the Goose On The Market after a long stint at The George has to be applauded also, it must be rather like choosing between going to fight in Afghanistan or going to fight in Iraq eh?...What hardy fellows they must be.
Thanks for your insight, but I know what's happened each time I've been there, so does everyone I've been with despite the fact you may, for all I know have been sitting next to me...Next time I'm in, I'll seek you out, the guy asleep in the corner yeah?
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A very nice if rather overlong post Mr.soap, I hope you don't mind if I don't read it all. I got lost just after the Chinese Takeaway on Wardour Street.I greatly look forward to your second post ( if of course there is one) perhaps you should review in order and now try the SECOND most successful pub in Croydon ,seeing that you do not like the service in the most successful.As for bar staff attitude and your crowd perhaps you are one of those lascivious old men who do not use SOAP and p*ss off the young ladies there, personally they are very pleasant to me.As for your crowd going in there over the years I have to say that the new manager has made the pub far more convivial to the majority,one or two ex patrons have departed for the Goose on the Market and are, to be polite NOT missed.If Wetherspoons make any blandishments to try to coax me from my happy retirement I will resist,trust me! Please read my review of the Sun at Redhill and THEN tell me wether you think I work for 'spoons! As for freebies I make a point of not accepting them, at �1.90 it is nearly free anyway.I will concede that at very busy pubs a wait may entail but that is the price of popularity.The point of "second home to me" I use the George twice a week and several other pubs twice a week,I am hardly a fixture of the place as I have reviewed over three hundred pubs.
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I can understand Slerpy's enthusiasm about the place as it seems like a second home to him (or her) and he (or she) is either a very seasoned regular who gets to sample the evolving wares for free (hence the encyclopaedic knowledge), or indeed a Wetherspoon's PR rep (hence the encyclopaedic knowledge!)
Slerpy is also obviously in full ownership of their onions as far as beer/Ale etc is concerned, BUT it's not just about that for some of us mere mortals I'm afraid.
Having managed to go 46 years without ever being verbally abused by any member of staff in any pub I've ever been in, a 10/10 would certainly be on offer from me for the George in this department going by a recent experience.
For simply asking a question on bar policy (albeit 3 times over with a string of non committal excuses as reply) and then having to have said abuse directed at myself in full earshot of 5 friends makes me wonder if there's any proper training gone on in this place from the management in terms of customer service. At a glance, it seems not, and talking to friends and colleagues openly about it, it seems not with bells on.
It goes on, and I see I'm not alone. Looking down the thread, there's numerous mentions of bad service and in my pretty extensive experience of the place, with good reason.
I have been frequenting the place on and off for years now and have myself had many orders unfulfilled properly or inadequately without apology, this of course is when the staff actually deign to serve someone like myself who doesn't fit their personal demographic or can somehow pull themselves away from their obviously riveting chit-chats behind the bar leaving a string of angry red faces all in a line waiting hopelessly.
I've even witnessed the deliberate muting of the pub bell by a bunch of grinning staff as last orders were called and the bell wasn't heard more than a foot away from the bar, the extra work obviously a pain to them and in turn, the spike in extra revenue as last orders are called, obviously not needed by a company obviously making way enough to survive, or indeed noticed by the finance dept when the spike doesn't occur...and obviously these characters behind this are not enjoying their chosen profession for some reason.
I can understand someone going here for convenience or because it's cheap, or if they work nearby and it's convenient, but as an informed choice?...No way.
The reputation it's rapidly earning amongst my social circle is as the Croydon equivalent of the Wong-Kei Chinese restaurant in Wardour street where punters actually go willingly for that special extra rudeness factor, infact The George even goes the extra mile and opens their doors wide to let the freezing cold belt in 20 minutes prior to closing just to make sure everyone is just that little bit more uncomfortable.
A place like this can surely only survive so long in proceeding to run a business this way and if the owners are either oblivious or actually don't care about the negative aspects and put profits and circulation over manners, knowledge of product, quality of experience and common courtesy, they're barking up a very dangerous tree AND there's a whole lot of people going to be in turn oblivious to how good a pub experience can actually be if one's run well.
My advice, stay away, or go only if you're really desperate.
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In a couple of weeks time the George will be awarded CAMRA's Pub of the Season award for Summer 2010.The Quality,range (eleven) and selection of their ales( milds, stouts,golden ales and award winners) clearly beats the local opposition. The vast improvement here is truly amazing.There is an ales/CAMRA blackboard on a pillar facing the Gent's toilet exit which will carry news and facts of interest.The largest television that i've ever seen has een installed in the middle section of the pub,I presume ,in order to show the forthcoming World Cup matches.I've never thought much of the food menu but this one is much better than previous ones.The guest ale price of �1.90, especially for Jaipur(5.9%) is quite unbelievable. 10/10
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A few great ales coming next week, -Thornbridge Lord Marples
Lancaster Red
Oakleaf Hole Hearted
York Centurions Ghost
The first ale has never been on in Central Croydon as far as I am aware.
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The Wetherspoonn's Beer Festival is from the 7th April through to the 25th.Several really good ales on the list- Kelham Island, oakham, Atlas,Holdens and four International brewers come here to brew. I mention this as one of the Breweries is.... Zululand Brewery ( this is not my April fool), I suppose it must be better than being poked in the eye with a sharp stick.A VERY rare ale is on on St.Patricks Day - a beer from Hilden's Brewery which hardly ever visits the mainland.
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Another wetherspoons with slow and rude staff, had a pint of directors not a bad pint but it took ages to get, while the staff were having a chat,no rush to serve the customers must finish conversation first. I did ask to speak to the manager about the service and the staff said he is sitting in the office, then turned around and said to the other member of staff as he always is.I don't think this is the way the staff should carry on. I am looking for a nice pub with nice staff good service why are these pubs so hard to find.
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The list below was available today, plus Holden's Golden Glow ( a fabulous golden honey ale). The guvnor is climbing Mount Etna in May for the 'spoons charity C.L.I.C.hoping to raise �5,000 , already one thousand has been raised. Bye the bye, Etna is actually an active volcano!
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Thornbridge Jaipur IPA
Oakham JHB
Oakham Bishops Farewell
Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted
Orkney Red McGregor
Inveralmond Ossian
Exmoor Beast
Will feature ( and others) in the George next week according to an e-mail from the local CAMRA branch.Eleven pence change out of two quid per pint purchased.The first and last ales mentioned are very stong so treat with due caution! TWG -that was a truly great review, it makes a wonderful change to read such a balanced report.
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After must be innumerable management changes, I feel a fresh review is merited in this case. Food quality, and that of the general clientele, does remain a mixed bag, and probably always will do. But happily for me, there has been a genuine uplift in the quality and range of ales, which as I said back in '06 was never poor, but as ever with JDW outlets, there was always room for improvement. Steve, the current incumbent, seems to have a sound knowledge of how to keep good beer and also shows a definite alacrity to lead where others follow: he has succeeded in getting the George into the Good Beer Guide for the first time I can remember - if it has featured previously it must have been over 10 years back, when I used to rely predominantly on my nose to sniff out good beer and boozers and not the GBG. The sister pubs in Croydon, the Ship of Fools and Skylark have featured, but the George always lagged behind - not so now. Steve's own dedication, and having apparently got his staff into better order, has made not only for better beer but (dare I say it) an improvement in efficiency too. I am finding myself opting to have a pint in this pub now, rather than using it by default because it was either too wet or I can't be arsed to walk to anywhere better from my office!
As ever with JDW one feels it's only a matter of time before this manager moves on, and if the next one has any less ability and interest in the ale element, the place will almost certainly revert to being average in this area. But as long as it's as it is, I shall never rule it out.
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The ales on offer were Jaipur, Ruddles Best, Abbot, Autumn Ale and Sundancer (both from Twickenhams). Christmas came early to my Missus and Me...!!! We had two roast turkeys with roast potatoes, vegetables and all the rest and a pint of Jaipur each as a deal. Liked the experience and will come again.
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Lovely place and a lovely atmosphere people are extra friendly staff are highly respectful. Good job of hiring this staff. Witherspoon should replace the staff at The Grape as they are not polite at all! very rude and arrogant staff quite opposite of The other branch of Witherspoon.
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Yet another ordinary Wetherspoons.It makes me laugh to read their corporate magazine.Where are the Managers in these places.Are these pubs the A-Z of the DSS in this sad and wasted country.
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Sampled CAROLUS at 8% from Belgium in The Ship of Fools. This ale was a dark copper, delicious, with a nice head only sold in half pint glasses. I bought two half�s a and asked for a empty pint glass but was refused. . Four half�s later and i felt at one with the world and at peace with god.
Slerpy...... If you�ve ever worked behind the bar in a busy pub you will know it never gets stressful enough to be rude to the paying customer.
Hudge - 12 Nov 2009 21:46 |
I wish to withdraw my last comment as it unwittingly appraises and supports slerpys toadying remarks to colonelflay
Hudge - 12 Nov 2009 21:25 |
AT LAST..... Sleepy has come to his senses.
Hudge - 12 Nov 2009 21:10 |
Thanks Colonelflay, I do not think that we are miles apart concerning this pub, the service is not everything that I would particularly wish for either but I honestly thought that you were a little over the top.Busy pubs have stressed staff. For a 'spoons in Croydon it does what it says on the tin with the quality of the ales being exceptional.The gentle sarcasm was meant to make a point but obviously struck an unintended cord.Hopefully the management will read this and act.You can always message me as many B.I.T.E members do rather than post as I think that users have now got a fair idea as to what to expect when they visit the George.A year ago the place was shambolic and is improving but not perfection......yet.
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To Slerpy: I rarely drink real ale so that is not a priority when assessing a pub. I've been using the George on and off since it opened and I can assure you this pub has just kept going downhill. The fact it is dirt cheap is the only reason for its survival.
You make a sarcastic comment: That I should look for a utopian pub, as if I am judging the George on impossibly high standards. This is nonsense. I judge a pub on three things: 1) the quality of drink kept 2)Bar service (this includes attention to detail and manners 3) ambience.
The George scores well on 1) but loses everything on 2). I don't mind the ambience. But 2) sinks this pub every time. It is so badly managed, with so many basic public house rules broken, the staff are so rude and so incompetent that it is truly hard to believe you are in an English pub.
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This is obviously a silly campaign as the George have not sold London Pride for several eons!!!! Mind you i have quite fancied myself with big mammaries for sometime.
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We popped into the Sour faced arms the other day better known as The George. Apparently this pub IS in The Good Beer Guide.
As usual, it was packed at the bar with drinkers who had already been served. The bar staff, with attitude, were present once again.
I had to queue for a drink and was served by a manic smiling barmaid. I took a mouthful of twangy flavoured London pride as she took my money.
On closer inspection I noticed bits floating in the pint. With some effort, I managed to get my pint changed.
To glean some idea of the attitude of this place, read slerpys bitter and twisted comments to bacardiandcoke, four reviews down.
He gives you the perfect example of what to expect from the bar staff when you are served by them in The George.....slerpy has got to be one of the barmaids who works there Saturday evening.
We decided to ventured to The Ship of Fools, (apparently NOT in The Good Beer guide)to sample more Real ale in more spacious environment.
The good Beer guide is only a GUIDE. There are other pubs (than the Sour faced Arms) to drink in, with a wide selection of ales and staff giving better service.
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i quite agree with bacardi and coke, this pub is s*** hole. the beer is horrible and food is disgusting, the manger called stephen meeke- the worst manager i have seeen in my life. went to talk to him about the beer, he just ignored and walked away. he just wants to llok important but never even smile when serving.
after talking to a friendly barmaid i discovered he is in trouble, he is accussed of being racist & a fraud, i am not surprised at all. the guy does look like a racist bugger,
TAKE MY ADVICE AND LEAVE THIS PLACE ALONE...........
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oops! I was, of course, referring to the reviewer prior to the previous reviewer. Unless someone sneaks in another comment prior to this entry.
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Very good range last Thursday included Jaipur IPA, Hogsback TEA & Autumn Ale, Twickenham Naked Ladies, Brewster's Daffys Elixir, a.n.other, plus the staples. Tried Elixir & Autumn ale & both in fine form. No problem with the service. Well done to the previous reviewer though, for finally working out how to remove capslock.
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The username " bacardiandcoke" tells everyone what we have here.I have never been in a wethersponns(sic) .Illiterate garbage.The simple truth is that the George is in the Good Beer Guide , and the Ship of Fools is not. I'm just surprised that this neanderthal cretin has dragged his knuckles along the ground from deepest West Croydon to a decent pub.
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i had a pint of naked lady in here on Monday and it was rotten, i thought i was going to get a knife and fork with the pint and have my dinner it had so many bits floating in it,i told the barmaid and she just looked at me she did'nt want to change it ,after asking 3 times to change she was very rude and said what do you want then, i said i will have my money back , i waited another 10 mins for this so called manager to give me my money back he just chucked the money on the bar , the place was so untidy. I keep reading slerpy comments and it does make me laugh , he must get a FREE PINT everytime he puts a comment on ,compared to the other wethersponns in Croydon this one needs sorting out ,i dont know who the manager is but slerpy is his best mate .slerpy try the other pubs around there much better than this one
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.....Point taken slerpy.....
Hudge - 25 Oct 2009 11:19 |
I know that it is a weird phenomena but Hudge, POPULAR pubs where people really want to drink do tend to be crowded.Personally I go to a pub for a decent range of ales served in perfect condition.Those two criteria are met at the George, if the barmaid gives a little smile that to me is an extra.As far as the ale that your beer knowledge failed to decipher correctly , I imagine that you were reffering to Thornbridge Hall Jaipur I.P.A., i'm sorry that it was not to your taste, perhaps you were not to the taste of the barmaids in the George!I digress, the aforementioned Jaipur won gold or silver at the first seventeen beer festivals that it appeared at. I tried a pint today and thought that it was absolute perfection! It might not be your taste though, you mentioned the porter stout as being to your taste that comes from O'Hanlon's Brewery and has many fans, though it is exceptional of its type it is not to my personal taste. A funny thing real ale everyone has a preference! If and when you venture in grab the manager or an assistant and complain about the staff and ale range they do, after all welcome suggestions, anything else would be trolling!
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This pub can get a little crowded at times and still employs sour faced staff who feel they are doing you a favour when serving you. It�s very competitive pub when trying to buy a beer and the bar staff can�t differ between who�s been waiting and who�s just walked in. The bar at the back is usually too busy anyway, with people ordering food and coffee.
I asked for a pint of the guest ale, Jaypure, I think it was. I was given a Tuborg instead by a very grumpy bar maid who blamed me for not stopping her make the mistake in the first place. This pint of Jodhpurs or Jay cloth, whatever the xxxxx thing was called, tasted foul. The words, wrestlers, Chinese and jockstrap sprang to mind. When I thought It couldn�t get worse, I purchased a pint of Naked lady.....The evening was only saved by a glass of the Porter Stout, which was excellent and a beer somewhere else.
At one point we considered ordering something to eat. Last time I ordered food here, we waited so long that I thought the cook had gone out to sea to catch the fish himself.
Hudge - 18 Oct 2009 05:07 |
Colonelflay, welcome to B.I.T.E. it is wonderful to have a NEW contributor on board, your FIRST post is very thoughtful.I look forward to your future posts with eager anticipation.If of course there are any.The point that perhaps you did not touch on was the QUALITY of the real ale which is dear to my heart, i'd appreciated an apraisal of the standards that you encountered here.I have come across really poor service in 'spoons pubs but my luck has held as far as the George is concerned so far.Perhaps you will find a utopian pub somewhere that we can all enjoy, personally I can't wait!
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A pub that has gone downhill badly. The staff work hard and some are friendly but overall the attitude is officious and about as far from proper public house behaviour as you can get. The greatest crime of the modern pub is bar staff being ignorant of the golden rule of knowing who is next to be served. This ignorance is demonstrated with a vengeance at The George. Many people waiting, the bar staff for the most part working at a snail's pace and then turning round and asking 'who's next?' Some unscrupulous person always puts himself forward and the atmosphere darkens even more. JD Wetherspoons MUST address this soon.
It is ironic that Wetherspoon pubs were initially designed to be traditional, because poor standards and non-traditional working practices are more common in them than anywhere else. They no longer ring the last bells at The George (so as to avoid the work the bells would attract to the bar). The staff grow ever more truculent. A man standing next to me at the bar was given a vodka and coke instead of the rum and coke he asked for. Amazingly the barmaid immediately got into a pedantic argument with him, trying to prove he'd asked for vodka and coke. The barmaid's stupidity and arrogance was at first astonishing and then became embarrassing. Once again, this demonstrates the precipitous decline of standards at JD Wetherspoons.
The food is now far more variable than it was at one time. Stone-cold or burnt offerings are quite a possibility. Again, truculence is often the first response from the staff. Staff routinely smash bottles into the steel bins by either bar. These should not be in the bar and the staff should not be allowed to throw bottles in them. At closing time the atmosphere among the drinkers is usually jolly and well-behaved. The staff on the other hand storm around bullying people into finishing their drinks and looking for the tiniest excuse to bar people. I don't blame them for being hacked off with the job, but unfortunately it is not the drinkers' fault they are working in such a tedious job. The real fault, of course, doesn't lie with the staff but with JDW's senior management. My guess is that it is the old story of 'profits up, standards slipping.'
One cannot fault the range of liquor and beer and the prices, and this is how such a poorly run pub survives. If a pub of similar prices and dimensions opened nearby with a more pleasant atmosphere, The George would be closing down soon afterwards.
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I visited yesterday, it has quite frankly taken all day to recover! The range of ales was utterly superb! O'hanlons Poter stout, a Twickenham ale or two, Oakham Mompesson's Gold, Jaipur Thornbridge Hall 5.9%. As I was leaving ( well oiled) in pops Imbiber,so a few more Jaipurs went down the hatch! Beware treat Jaipur with maximum respect! The hair of the dog has not worked! On the 1st of October a brewer from Twickenham will hold a chat withQ's 'n A's( start time 5p.m.) ales will be �1.69 , Some of the aforementioned beers will be on. If you attend and keep the till receipt and go to the other three meet the brewer evenings planned in Croydon a t-shirt is yours buckshee! Now how good is that! The other featured brewers are Pilgrim, Weltons and Hog's Back.Slerpy is going but will avoid Jaipur with an iron will ( I think).
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same old westhersppons but ok and a nice meal!
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G.B.G. fell through my letter box on Friday. Congratulations to the George on being selected for the first time in a decade.the improvement has been astonishing, yes at busy times there is a wait but at �1.89 for ale to die for I for one a happy to wait my turn.On the !st of October there is a "Meet the Brewer Evening" .Which brewer I hear you cry, Twickenham is the answer. Ooh! Kick off is at 5p.m.
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Always very busy, particular at and around the front bar (which unfortunately is the one with the better range of beers). Best bet is to get your pint there and then move towards the back bar area which is a bit more civilised. Never had a bad pint here (and today's Tom Wood's Old Timber was very good), but I don't like the atmosphere.
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Every 'spoons started a new menu today, as you would expect the George is NO exception, one major difference is that the �2.99 value range has 14 dishes after due consideration ther are one or two that I might eat. Ale wise Caledonian XPA was a real delight, Bateman's XXXB was its usual fantastic self. Wickwar, Springhead,St.Peters and several more were available. The George surpasses ones expectation of a 'spoons.
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Split level pub with bars on both levels. A fair number of festivals ales were available including one I hadn't tried, the Wooden Hand Cornish Mutiny. The clientele, especially in the upper bar, seemed of a more elderly persuasion, plenty of couples dining or people popping in for a quick drink during a shopping trip. Decent place for a beer.
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April guest beers have arrived ! Holden's Special was on yesterday. Oakham White Dwarf ,Thrappledouser, Otter, Brewsters and Woodfordes Admiral ale to follow.
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The beer festival is coming up on the 15th Aproil- 4th May. Ales will be �1.69 a pint . the good news is that the beer list ( this time around ) looks very good !
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This place is a classic case study for all of the best and worst features of Weatherspoons pubs.
The front half of the premisis tends to be populated by the quite sizeable all-day-drinking brigade, whilst the rear is a nice area with plenty of seating for those wanting food. There are bars at both ends of the pubs, but it's worth braving the drunkards at the front to check out the excellent guest ales, of which the JHB is worth a try right now(and apparently it's their most popular). The bar staff are your typical unfriendly bunch of youngsters whilst the food is exactly what you'd expect it to be in these places.
The pub is so superbly located that it's almost inevitable I'll find myself in there every now and again and each time I seem to come away with a different opinion of the place, but ultimately it's a half decent Weatherspoons. Nuff said.
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I noticed that the price of guest beers here is down to �1.79 ! I can only think that this is in EVERY 'spoons. the Oakham JHB was to die for ! The Ossian was v.good, White Star Titanic is turning up over the next weekend.
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Very busy centre of town Wetherspoons. I go in at lunchtimes when i can no longer face going back to the office. Superb range of beers and the 99p real ale offer makes this place well worth a visit. Locals may appear a bit grim and there are certainly some with serious addiction problems, but, never had a cross word with any of them and most are actually very friendly. Food very good and served at very reasonable prices. Highly recommended.
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The Oakham JHB is the best pint in Croydon for both price and quality. A shame more customers who have previously given up on this place don't return and see the massive improvement.9/10 the other mark is pending.
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Went to this pub Tuesday and the management and staff were ever so friendly. Great food and great selection of ales
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Dark Star to feature more regularly. Customers can now vote for the beer of their choice !
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Steve is just starting to improve the George .Oakham ales are now regularly available, one of the best beers in the country! at �1.99 this could become my regular haunt. 9/10
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Love this pub and i LOVE steve
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gdm, in George Street you are more likely to be hit by a tram.
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I have frequented this place off and on for a number of year and I'm sure managers have come and gone but it has always seemed much the same to me. Reasonable beer served by inattentive staff at reasonable prices. Did pop in for a coffee at about 10.30 one morning but by Pavlovian reflex found myself ordering a pint. Unless I'm hit by a tram I know I have many evenings in this place in front of me.
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HI SLERPY YOU SEEM TO LIKE THE MANAGER FROM THE SKYLARK NOW AT THE GEORGE. ANOTHER FREE PINT WELL DONE, THE LAST MANAGER WAS GREAT, BEERS GOOD ,THE NEW MANAGER WILL HAVE TO WORK HARD AND KEEP BEERS A LOT BETTER THAN HE DID IN THE SKYLARK ANYWAY I AM OFF TO THE SKYLARK FOR A PINT OF GUEST ALE. LOOK FORWARD TO SOME MORE OF YOUR COMMENTS SOON
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Not too bad really.
Normally a good choice of ales on tap but service can be a bit on the slow side.
Having said that there are many pubs in Croydon well below the standard of this pub.
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Slowly but surely Steve is working his magic , in a few weeks time this pub will be unrecognisable.The front bar has ben a disgrace for quite awhile, soon those days will be gone, my prediction is that this will reassume its position as the best pub in Croydon.8/10
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I know the ambiance WILL change. Though this may take a month or two.I would bet good money that this will be a GBG entry after the changes.At the moment I rate this pub a 6/10.
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It seems slerpy and I both have time on our hands this afternoon as we have both been posting reviews on Croydon pubs in quick succession.
I am intrigued by slerpy's information about the imminent change of management at the George, by the sound of it, things can only get better.
My past experience of this pub is that while it serves a decent variety of beers cheaply, the quality can sometimes be rather below par. That said, you get what you pay for and value for money is what you get. They also do cheap beer/food deals, which are good value but not exactly gourmet.
The ambiance however is not pleasant, so I hope the new management will bring about the necessary change.
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Steve the manager from the Skylark will return from holiday to manage the George,I expect this pub to rocket forwards over the next couple of months. Service, quality, customer care will change beyond recognition. The other central Croydon pubs will struggle to keep up. In Steve's eighteen months at the Skylark I never once had to take back a pint, everyone has been superb. I cannot say that of any other Croydon pub.
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We just have had a dinner in George pub. Or exactly we just wanted to eat something british and of course we wanted a pint of good beer. It was my worst choiche since i am in britain. I like british pubs, because of the good beer and feeling, but this pub is under every critic. The food is expensive and like a table of shit. I asked something well known food, large onion ring, but it was only a few slice. I used to eat in the green dragon in croydon as well, but this place is terrible. I am not british, that's true, but not stupid. They stiffed me.
i think this place is under every critic
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I pop in occasionally and to my surprise I have had some excellent real ale. The thing about this pub is that it is normally heaving with drinkers.
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Always packed as it is Croydons most central Whetherspoons. Food is good, staff have always been okay, but get in early if you want a seat. You will need ID on Friday and Saturday nights, but the doormen are nice enough.
anonymous - 4 Oct 2007 11:11 |
What can I say about 'The George' in Croydon. Rather a lot. Unfortunately, most of it is negative.
I went there recently for a friends 18th. We ordered some drinks. However, they did not ask for ID from people from our table to begin with. This was their mistake, which we felt we were made to pay for later. We were taken aback when a waitress came over and asked for ID, mainly because some time had passed since we received our drinks, and, we were even more taken aback when (as some of us did not have ID with us), we were asked to leave the pub all together. When we pointed out we had ordered food, the waitress offered us a refund, which we were going to accept. However, after returning to collect our refund, the waitress discovered the food was already cooking, and told us we could stay till we had finished eating. However, it was soon made clear to us that we were very unwelcome.
On the plus side, the food was good (I had the chicken burger), as were the portion sizes. Also, a different waitress who served the food seemed polite. However, the waitress who'd told us we needed to leave after we'd finished eating, insisted upon returning to our table to remind us of this. Which was irritating and unfriendly. Also, at the end of the meal, she returned to our table, and asked if we were finished. One of my party indicated that he had some chips left, and the waitress simply asked him if he could finish, in a rather hostile tone. Once we were all done, we were literally shunted out of the building. Even though they were in their rights to ask for ID and to ask us to leave, they did not have to be so rude about it. Nor did they have to make us feel so unwelcome when we were eating our meals. I will not be going here again!
anonymous - 18 Jun 2007 19:11 |
always packed, very hard to get a seat anywhere. bar staff treat most people with 'i don't wanna be here' attitude. there is a nice selection of beers, ales etc all at a good price, but for atmosphere i would rate this very low. only go in for a quick pint after work, not for a night out.
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This exactly what a Wetherspoons in central Croydon is going to be like. Croydon is soulless and so is Wetherspoons - combine the two...
I haven't found the staff rude or unfriendly - just neutral. I go for the bottled ciders here as the ale can be pretty poor.
The Weston's perry is a real treat.
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This pub is always busy. Probably for the cheap drinks. The bar staff can be very rude and it is a typical chain pub. However it does get a bit of atmosphere on a friday night and the food is not bad at all. It seems to me as "the first drink" pub on a night out. Note you will need ID in this place if you look under 30!!!!
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This pub sums up Croydon really, its a bit dull and dreary and in need of a paint job and a bit of atmosphere. You would wonder how busy it would be if it wasn't for the cheap drinks.
anonymous - 9 Feb 2007 01:58 |
This is a very busy JDW pub close to the main shopping area of Croydon and many offices. Not a bad pub but the range of real ales is the usual suspects plus 2 'guests' only. These are only obtainable at the front bar which currently is in the smoking area, although come 1 July this will disappear. The back bar now appears to open from 12 noon onwards and the beer available is very limited. The gents toilet is down stairs of course and tends to be a bit gloomy.
The other two pubs, as far as I am concerned, the Ship of Fools at West Croydon and the Skylark at South Croydon are preferable.
For a quick pint and a meal whilst out shopping it is adequate.
The service when I was there was n ot super quick but you did not have to wait too long.
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Nice pub. Typical Wetherspoons thing - though range of beers was not as good as some were off when I visited last.
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Personally, the only good thing bout this pub is its cheap. i think the staff are extremly rude, the food is not all that, does seem to get busy in there but i wouldnt say it is full of a good crowd, just a load of kids going there on the cheap before moving on. Wouldnt recommend
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This is undeniably classic JDW, but notwithstanding the concesus of agreement being that it is a poor relation in terms of beer range, quality, service and atmosphere to its other Croydon cousins the Ship Of Fools and the Skylark, I don't find it too unbearable. The number of visits I make there is disproportionate to the level at which I rate it, but that is born mainly of convenience - it draws much of its custom from being proximitous to shops and offices.
Sometimes the service is atrocious. The clientele is inebriated loud under 25s in the evenings, and bouncers hardly add to its ambience. Daytimes are complete with career-boozers and old pirates, and a few suited types, such as me. It is a pleasant enough interior with some nice alcoves for quieter conversation, but not especially remarkable.
The real saving grace of the George is its ale. Occasionally not all pumps are in use, but nearly every pint I've had here from the vast range of beers on the JDW list has been in impeccable order. Maybe I've just been very fortunate, but if you're a committed ale-sampler then you shouldn't go far wrong to come here during the day, and of course everything is keenly priced. I sank 3 pints of my beloved Oakham JHB there on Friday and loved every mouthful! It isn't all bad. Moreover, whilst the Skylark and Ship are equally good beer-wise, I find them over-rated as pubs otherwise and I don't find the George to be any the less appealing.
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Often the most popular beer is "SORRY NOT AVAILABLE", judging from the pump clips. (The SKYLARK in Brighton Road usually seems able to provide a full range when The George cannot.) Otherwise a decent Wetherspoons with a very large no-smoking area. Mixed clientele: lager-swilling Croydon yoof; OAPs having good value meals and cups of tea; business types after work; "all-day" drinkers...
And of course serious ale-loving, crossword-puzzling intellectuals who enjoy the music-free environment to chat with mates...
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Decentish post shopping pub, with 2 bars. I hope they've kept the rear bar a no smoking area as it's usually devoid of the ususal aged pissheads & the service there is more prompt.
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typical whetherspoons...cheap and cheerful. Bouncers on the doors thu, fri and sat nights. Pre- evening drinks kinda pub so expect it to be rammed on a fri and sat night. Overall good pub x
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It's an average wetherspoons pub. You know exactly what it will be like before you step inside.
Cheap food and drink, a decent range of beer but very busy and smokey.
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Being cheap is it's only redeeming feature. Seriously characterless old mans pub!!
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"You want what, sir? A SEAT?? In the smoking area?! You're having a laugh aren't you?"
I think that just about sums it up. This place is to be avoided at all costs. The Old Brief across the road is much better.
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This place is ok as a meeting place. I recommend the bottles of Kozel lager - mainly because the beer glasses are so filthy.
Also, the men's toilets are vile. Full of bangers and mash. The local winos obviously don't believe in flushing the chain.
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Good points - cheap.
Bad points - characterless barn, tasteless food, surly staff.
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I love this place. Definatly me and my girlies start of point for the evening! Only ever spend about �20 in there as the drinks are so cheap. Fantastic
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Staff are rude, and managers are even worse.
The place is dirty filthy and nasty and full of pikeys.
No thank you.
Would rather go to the skylark or sof.
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Worst Wetherspoons pub in Croydon. Its the only one that seems to be refitted and after every refit it looks even more in need of one than before. Beers are usually better at the back bar though!!
Jeff "Sandy" - 22 Oct 2004 00:50 |
Despite what people say I have never had a problem with the bar staff. The George usually have a selection of stirrers for drinks which are amusing to play with. It is great value for money compared with most of the pubs and bars in Croydon and there must be something to draw people back considering how busy it always is. I also recommed steak club every Tuesday 5-10pm, what a cool name.
Penny - 8 Sep 2004 16:00 |
Wetherspoons = cheap and no frills
Comments about the service are spot on. No-one would be rude to Boozywoozy of course, but I've seen those bar-staff in action and customer service is most definitely not their forte. They can be quite breath-takingly rude and dismissive.
On the plus side it's cheap drinks for those on a budget and guest ales for the beardy, woolly jumper wearing types.
Boozywoozy - 3 Sep 2004 13:38 |
The problem with this pub is the service. It varies from poor to dreadful. If you go to the bottom of George Street, turn right and walk straight ahead for 5 mins you come to another and far superior Wetherspoons - the Ship of Fools
John Davis - 3 Aug 2004 15:59 |
The only it has going for it is that it is cheap and to quote devils bitchs comment below the reason the food tastes as if it has been left there a while is because it has, they make it and leave it for someone to order and microwave it.
anonymous - 13 May 2004 15:13 |
Definately not a very good pub. You get the usual whetherspoon cheap prices but it gets so packed it's probably not worth going in. But then that is the only complaint I suppose, how busy it is. Still if you want to go to a better JDWspoons pub in Croydon, go to The Ship of Fools.
Mr. - 26 Apr 2004 20:30 |
went to the pub this week, will not head back in their everagain.
Have always been a quiet fan of the Wetherspoon expierance in the past. Not the most lively places to drink, but a good place to go for a decent beer or two for a good price.
But will think again about going back to this one, as the Quality of the bar service needs great improvement.
Seem to have very inexperienced bar staff who don’t have a clue how to talk to people. They are rude and arrogant. (may be they all need a communication course in how to be polite to a customers.)
Seemed to me that I was a hindrance to them from start to finish of being in there. I must have broke the Camel's back when I ask for more Ice in a coke. If that wasn’t bad enough I saw them rude to a couple of old folks (well retired anyway)Was going to complain but the people behind the bar didnt even have the brains to be able to deal with a complaint.
Isn’t it me but doesn’t this totally contradict the JD Wetherspoon corporate aim?.
Seems to me that it has to be one of the worst pubs I’ve been in for a long time.
Didn’t even have the patience to order food in the place, but if is as bad as their attitude. Forget it.
David - 26 Mar 2004 15:51 |
Good place to get drunk, as ever. A good prequel to walkabout.
Andrew - 31 Dec 2003 17:22 |
I like the fact the drinks are so cheap in this pub as u can get pissed b4 u get in a club!! I dont think the food standard is very high. Sometimes the steak tastes abit chewy and at times the food tastes as if it has been left there a while. I heard a rumour its because they treat there kitchen staff like dirt! The menu is always the same - dont think the chef has much imagination! I think it has great value for money for drinks and the offers are excellent.
devil's bitch - 27 Apr 2003 21:52 |
Standard 'Weatherspoons' type pub. Not much atmosphere, no music, but a good selection of beers, and very, very good value for money.
Glen - 1 Mar 2003 16:05 |
The George is a splendid pub with two separate bars at either end of the pub. The trams running outside can be a hazard after 'one too many' but the location is ideal. It is probably the most busy pub in Croydon with standing often on the cards during lunch hours and after work. Food is very good and waiting times to get served are almost non-existant especially when you go to the back bar, which one can only presume people do not know exists by the fact that people queue for the first bar.
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