please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Still a solid down to earth hostelry. Decent service and decent beer.
Some fine tunes on the jukebox.
Given the heat of the hand dryer last time this time I went for drip dry.
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Good solid friendly down to earth pub. Fair prices.
Hand drier in Gents quite hot.
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Improved over the past few years. Gets very busy between 1.30 and 2.30 on matchdays but plently off staff (They had 11 barmaids during the last home game). Right by Norwood Junction station. Beers all priced in the £3.50 to £4.00 range. Sky TV, big screen. Toilets aren't great. Have barbecue in beer garden at back.
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Fever karaoke no longer here, and will cease business at the end of this month according to their website. I've not been to this pub to see if it has improved, as I only ever went for the karaoke
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We thought we'd stop here for a swift one to let the football crowds die down at the station. But no away fans are allowed. So 0/10 for the discrimination. A shame, when fans had been drinking together here before the game.
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Fever Karaoke still here and doing well.
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Not a bad place. Right next to Norwood Junction so excellent if you need to catch the train. Polish owned and run. Clean and pleasant inside, with a choice of standard draft lagers, not sure about the real ale. A large beer garden out back which is quite pleasant in summer. They have a duke box here and will turn the volume up if you ask them to, as well as a darts board. They will accept away supporters as well as Palace fans. Most of the regulars are friendly and will not course you any grief, the bar staff are friendly as well. A good place for a quick pint if you are passing by, as it is one of the better pubs in the local area.
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We will throw out anyone kurwa who disrespect my pub bitch and beat them up.
My pub my kurwa rules. You bitch about my beer is no taste so good and i hear you on the camera you was stand near. there are no one doormans they are my friend who are working for me on the doors to stop gypsie and romanians and the blacks gangster from coming in and if they dont like you they beat up you. simple.
No kurwa come back to my pub or i kick to your duza dupa ass dobrze?
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The first pub out of the station. On the negative side the music was a bit loud, the bar staff a bit grim, and the London pride tasted off. The staff were not bothered about that. On the plus side there was no hassle, the juke box is good. It has pool and darts but best of all is a spacious outside area, no doubt to cater for the large pre=match clientele. A little make over, taking care of the bitter, friendlier bar staff and some soap in the toilet dispensers then this would be a decent pub. I get the impression in South Norwood that pubs don't want to invest in attracking new customers!
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its okay
run by a plump Polish woman
beer was okay too, only had John Bull 3.4 % on out of 3 hand pumps
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Fever karaoke have started doing fortnightly karaoke here. Gets a lot of singers from other parts of London doing their bit. Worth coming down alternate Friday nights. Next one: this Friday June 8th.
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It's alright actually - friendly enough, unpretentious, local crowd.... nothing particularly outstanding but its decent enough for a pub by a station.
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The windows of this pub are adorned with George crosses, Polish flags and a Crystal Palace flag and this d�cor is taken inside making it impossible not to fathom that this is an Eagles supporter�s pub. I spotted a couple of plasma screens which were both off even though there was a Champions League game in progress so maybe only Palace get aired. The music was very loud and there was a party atmosphere with a few pissed up regulars enjoying themselves dancing around.
There were three hand pumps, but only Pride was available as one ale was off and the other pump was unused. San Miguel was also available along with a standard draught range and I was poured a nice Guinness from the friendly barmaid.
I�d probably walk past this place if in the area again as I�m a Bees fan.
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Good football pub, always full of the Palace on match days, Eagles !!!
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This pub is okay but best visited when you've already had a few. That way you will be more oblivious to some of its failings. The music is ok and the cleanliness is above average (but not outstanding).
The garden is okay in the summer as long as it isn't too busy.
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Had a quick beer in here last night cleaner than it was but no atmosphere rating will go up slightly
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Eva & hubbie continue to manage this pub & it is the busiest pub in Norwood. No food but a good atmosphere and reasonable prices.
Entertainment value is very good. Live music, jam session, Karaoke and the best DJ's I have heard in a very long time often play there (Toxic Sounds). I have been there on many a Friday night & seen people dancing to their music and really having a good time. Lots of English & Polish flags are up which can be a bit off-putting! Good garden at rear, pleasant bar staff.
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Lets face it, South Norwood is totally lacking in decent pubs. The only good thing about this pub is that it is right outside the station and on the way home. I though another selling point could have been the outside space but not anymore. The pub has a serious rat problem and the dirty little things are not afraid to show themselves. When I moved to the area I had high hopes that the Cherry Trees could provide something more than another smelly old man pub. How wrong I was. This pub really has an opportunity to give South Norwood a bit of a facelift. It's the first pub you come to as you leave the station after a long day at work. It has such potential to capture thirsty London workers by offering a clean modern environment, a decent pint and a nice beer garden. Istead it offers a rather grubby interior, grubby glasswear, unpleasant toilets and a rat infested garden. Not really the place you want to walk into after work. A pub needs locals to survive but just think of all that passing trade you're missing and the opportunity to encourage new locals.
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i agree with mickeyboy and think the others must be self written by the owners!
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You know I really think that the people making these adverse comments are from rival pubs, or maybe have a beef against the owners.
The pub is run by a polish lady Eva and she is currently doing her very best to make this pub a nice place for people to drink in. For example, at Xmas she dressed the pub up festively, the same with Halloween, and as it has just come past Valentines day there have been lovely flowers in vases on the bar - a nice effort on her behalf.
The pub has been altogether a nicer place to drink in since she has been in charge and I for one make this my pub of choice in the area on non-football days - football days are when generally every pub in South Norwood is best avoided. I know that my opinion is not unique - it's just that the other chaps in my drinking crowd do not have access to the internet.
Keep up the good work Eva - all your regulars are behind you.
xxx
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Having read the reviews and generally slated Norwood (I'm a local to the area), I feel compelled to respond
This pub is not brilliant. Far from it - the beer is neither expensive or particularly cheap, and the environment leaves a lot to be desired in terms of clientelle and personnel.
However I do not feel it's worth moaning about and here's why
1. Go to the Jolly Sailor as it's the only good pub for a mile
2. It's a station pub- tell me a good station pub anyone has ever been in?
As for the Polish contingent - I have never had a problem communicating my order nor have I been bullied or barked at. I guess I might have been lucky so far...
It is what it is and I like to come here after work, sink a beer and leave. Given the options around the area, it's on my way home and while it's bad it's not the Wetherspoons which is my idea of personal hell.
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awful pub - don't bother.
staff don't talk english, tom and mick are rude and a pair of fly-boys, beer stinks and tastes awful - nobody cares that the toilets are always manned by two guys at a time (even though they seem to like the back of the toilet seat more than the hole..) - really - go somewhere else instead - like the Sailor - much better pub
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Hi All,
I've been using this pub on and off for the last few years, going back to when John Shannie had it.
I went in on Halloween - the sign outside was writen totally in Polish and when I went in, I asked for 'A Pint Of Carling, Please' 3 times before resorting to hand gestures because the staff had no English.
I've been in three times since and every time, the barstaff are talking to their Polish friends at one end of the bar, while it's a struggle for anyone else to even get their attention, let alone get a drink.
This is a nice pub, so don't give up on it totally, but while the current anti-english attitude (or at the least, can't-understand-english attitude) is there, leave it alone.
That's just my opinion, but I believe if you walk into a pub in England and speak English, then no matter the nationality of the bar staff, they should at least be proficient enough to be able to understand you.
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????????????????????
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If you only do one thing this year... AVOID THIS PLACE!
Tom the landlord is a big bully who will either overpower you to his liking or ask you to leave.
I understand him and his sidekick Mick have other pubs including the Portmanor. What surprise that both pubs are equally awful with similary awful expensive beer, a policy of at least two guys at a time in the cubicles and an aggressive clientele (well, they say a dog takes after its owner...).
Yes there is new management in there - probably for a month or so until they go the way of all the others and get sick of being bullied by Tom and Mick for a pittance.
Either go and visit the Jolly Sailor or go and drink in the local park with the hoodies - you have less chance of being abused or assaulted by the hoodies!
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This place looks nice from the outside with the new sign but the inside could do with a makeover too. Since the smoking ban the place smells of B.O.!
anonymous - 19 Nov 2007 11:15 |
Steve,
please note - taken from the 'posting policy' on this website...
If you think the last 5 reviews were all left by the same person because they were posted within 10 minutes of each other and spelt "beer" as "bear" (yes, really, people do that), there's no need to point it out - do you really think you're the only one clever enough to notice?
How many posts in how many weeks? Once, 3 in one day!!!!!!
anonymous - 17 Sep 2007 21:35 |
Alas, the tyranny of multi-pub guv'nors has fallen the cherry trees and all of the work done by the previous managers, dee & jan, has been swept away.
I'll be boycotting the place until it changes hands and no, Mick, Tom, this ain't dee or jan writing, it's one of the many regulars you've annoyed with your bully-boy tactics.
Maybe you guys should learn what a good pub looks like and what good staff look like, then you wouldn't have to sack the whole lot of them every 3 months, only to reinstate them elsewhere...
anonymous - 14 Sep 2007 15:44 |
hello there, thanks for all your comments. The good ones are especially nice and the not so good ones are carefully being reviewed. I can say, it has been noted about the comments re: the 2 guys in the gents together. There are now signs up all over saying that the pub has a zero tollerance for drug users and i can definietly say that the gents toilets, in general, are being attended to on a more regular basis.
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popped in cherrys b4 charlton game and was appalled. too packed ( wot was the bloke on the door thinking), service was poor coz of this, barmen ignorant ( leave it to the barmaids). i mean one of the barmen had one eye !!. if this continues they will lose many palace fans. popped back after game for a very swift half and the toilets were a state. sort it out.
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Not having been in the cherry's for a while ( it was a very boring place,) i went there the other friday and was totally amazed how a pub can change for the better so quickly. Decent bar staff, quick service and no nasty smells !!! The atmosphere was a refreshing change with people laughing and joking !!! The beer garden is a result with this smoking ban and is a very good size. well done the new management, i shall be frequenting the cherrys on a regular basis.
anonymous - 4 Sep 2007 21:43 |
At weekends there is usually two blokes in the toilet cubicle at the same time, so it would appear there is a bit of a cocaine habit going on.
It's also a nightmare to get served, you are lucky if you only have to wait 5 minutes to get a pint, and that's is when there is only two of three people in the pub! The bar staff are usually too busy smoking in the garden.
Not a pub I'd recommend.
anonymous - 20 Aug 2007 08:58 |
What a pleasant surprise to see a pub IMPROVING! If these reviews are anything to go by the CT has changed enourmously for the better in the intervening 13 months since I last visited. On that occasion the only entertainment to be had was to see how long it took you to unstick your pint glass from the bar or to guess how many times your one or two fellow drinkers had washed, shaved or been compos mentis in the last six months.
Well done the Cherry Trees' new management! It sounds like it's 1988 all over again.
Just a shame that, living in Manchester, I won;t be able to get down for a while!
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Nice adverts, three in 16 minutes, all off the same computer do you reckon?
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Good pub for families and they let customers bring in well behaved dogs too - great garden where you can normally find Suggs, the pub dog - a really good natured beasty.
Had a laugh with the locals and will probably end up being a local now myself. Staff are fun and friendly and there's loads going on - this has all the hsllmarks of a great community pub where folk do more than just go and drink.
Was particularly impressed by the amount of stuff going on - come and discover The Cherry Trees for yourself!
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What a pub!!!
Friendly staff and landladies, lots of locals and newbies alike, great live music and a jam, jukebox, quiz nites, darts, loads of TV screens, excellent garden, good prices - this is fast becoming the pub of choice for all self respecting Norwoodians - come along and enjoy the party!
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I've been drinking in Norwood for 15 years and I know most of the pubs around. It's a pleasure that the Cherry Trees is under new management because this pub is finally fulfilly it's potential.
It has, without doubt the best beer garden in Norwood and has been undergoing a bit of a face lift - the pic on this site is out of date.
There is a jam every other Sunday and they usually get a good 60 or 70 people, including a lot of bands, musos and newcomers - thankfully it isn't showing any signs of degenerating into a Blues jam which these things can, so full marks to Pete (from 48 Thrills, Dead Umbrella, Answers On A Postcard and any other band he can get his chubby little face into!) for spreading the word and running it on the day.
They have a good few bands playing there when the jam isn't on and they get some quality numbers - I recently saw Purple (a Deep Purple tribute who were awesome) and Ashbone You Wish (Wishbine Ash tribute) as well as the legendary Papa Amos Band. Being a high ceilinged pub, the acoustics are pretty good and if you like your music but not so lous, there's always that garden again.
On an average day in the Cherry Trees, you'll find friendly locals and visitors of all ages - they seem to have a magic balance of being family-friendly without having screaming kids running all over - not an easy feat. There's a Juke Box with a a suggestion board for new music (how about that for customer feedback in action?), a fruity, a quiz machine and a dartboard. Prices are reasonable and certainly on a par with most other pubs and the staff and Jan & Dee (The Bosses!) are real nice too, so there's a really friendly atmosphere there.
On top of all that, they do a meat raffle, Lottery Bingo, barbeques and they are the pub of choice for both home and away fans when Palace are playing at Selhurst Park.
If you only visit one new pub in Norwood this year, make sure it's this one!
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I have never been a regular to this pub before, as
I had a drink in there once and vowed never to go back to such a dingy, dull excuse for a pub. But recently some friends asked me to meet them in there before a night out somewhere else and we realised it was under new mangement. They had a DJ in there and it was lively, a really good atmosphere. Everyone was really friendly and there was an all female bar staff, so as a group of young girls we felt really safe. We never did move on to our planned night out but stayed in there all night and enjoyed ourselves, we have all said we will go back again as it was a great night and there's a cab station right across the road and it's really handy for the train station (so that when you're drunk you don't have to stumble too far in your heels!!!)
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As a South Norwoodite and running a local business I wanted to use the Cherry Trees pub to relax after a hard day and to enjoy a Friday and Saturday evening if not otherwise occupied........I did use this hostelry but only found myself disappointed but the convenience was the overwhelming factor......now there are new people......what joy!!! It is clean with fresh food and smiling faces.
The garden has candle lights and they are doing bbq's
Live music......bliss.....and not the repetative karioke nights.......these are live bands
from hard rock to soul,reggae and rnb......and a good disco too. It is now more of a lively and friendly pub to be in and I am realy proud to say it's my local.
Try it......and see for yourself.
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This is a message is for all old and new customers. We have just taken over management (1st July, 2007) (New law on smoking in public places day). This brings us to say that we have the the nicest, most spacious garden in the area. Smokers and children are very welcome. (and friendly pets). We are both old locals of the pub and so we know what the "people" want. We sell premium lagers, real ale & plenty of bottled beer. We also have a variety of shots and lots of good wine. There is live music most weeks, including the famous "Papa Amos Band". We have a jam every other Sunday @ 5pm. Also on Sundays we have b-b-q's along with our meat raffle. Come along and see the famous D.J Geoff every Friday @ 8pm. This pub has truely had an uplift and if you don't believe us come along and see for yourselves. ps. we also sell tea, coffee, chocolate and fresh rolls daily. See ya soon.
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The demise of the few good pubs in South Norwood is a tragic shame. I returned to the town where I grew up in for the first time in 14 years. When I left, The Cherry Tree was a bright, modern, pristine establishment with well kept gardens and always buzzing with life on Friday and Saturday nights. A young clientele would meet there prior to moving on to various nightspots and it was a favourite 'after work pub' for the Sainsburys employees - of which I was one back in 1988. When I visited in June 2006 it was in a sorry state, dirty, depressing, smelly, neglected and the typical 'low-lifes' haunt. I moved on to another of my old locals - the Portmanor, only to be further depressed! I truly hope the new regime get it back to close to where it was.
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Great to see them making some sort of effort with the Cherries; were it nor for it being so handy for grabbing a pint before watching Palace (lose), you would seriously have avoided this (I won;t mince my words) dump.
Like Alph, the ratings are in the post.
One question, though; what the Hell did they do with those magnificent chandelierlight things? They were sort of ancient Egyptian in style, and hung about 5 feet down from the ceiling. They were surely, unique, and are a sad loss to the area...
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As a regular on match days, the quality of real ale is vastly imrpoved. Shame about the dodgy carpet on the raised area.
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After noticing the "under new management" sign outside The Cherry Trees earlier this week, and hearing that this management also controlled the Clifton Arms and also the Whiteleafe Tavern, I called in on Wednesday 30th August at about 4.00pm. I was apprehensive because this venue has been a rather grim lager lounge for a good while...
There were two handpumps sporting homemade clips announcing "Spitfire" and "London Pride". I sampled each and found them to be in good condition, considering they'd been on a couple of days and business seemed sluggish - I was the only punter, although several others arrived and ordered lagers while I was there. The third handpump seemed to be broken, and hung at an odd angle.
The young Polish barman told me it was to be repaired, that GK IPA was to be added soon, and that three more handpumps ("over there", pointing) serving a variety of guest ales were planned. One to watch, obviously. An acquaintance of mine chanced to arrive, and insisted on bying me a drink, so I tried another half of Pride which seemed even better than the first...
The Cherry Trees is currently rather shabby, but the barman informed me plans were afoot to remedy this, including a new wood bartop. No reason why this shouldn't be a comfortable proper pub again. I'm reserving a rating until I've had a chance to see what happens.
It would be good to have another real ale venue in South Norwood, but that depends on drinkers turning up and supporting the venture, and supping the ale while it's fresh. Handy venuefor Norwood junction, and Selhurst Park.
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Grim Grim Grim
I just love the way your glass sticks to the bar and tables with a gluey scum that even the x files team wouldnt be able to describe!
Looks like its been closed for a refurb lets hope its under new management when it re opens as well!
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Grim.
The only pub I can think of that is an argument for chain pubs.
Slightly sinister atmosphere as well which is a charming addition to the poorly kept beer and flat lager.
If you're early for your train from Norwood Junction and fancy a beer don't visit the Cherry Trees. If you cant make it up to the Alliance, risk an ASBO and street drink.
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I agree with londonse25, it is pretty grim. Just like the Jolly Sailor.
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Where do we start? I've seen a good few fights in this pub, usually when John the landlord is drunk and berating his wife. Non-english speakers are not welcomed, the beer is often flatish, not through the pipes not being cleaned (usually) but because the glass washer is awful and doesn't do its job - get a beer in a Carling glass and look at the scum that builds up in the raised carling logo! Toilet often a state, there's only been soap in the gents once in 2 years and that was for a family party. Garden is great but in need of TLC and there are some odd smells coming from there...
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Definitely a lager drinkers' pub now. There might be one beer on if you're lucky, but its quality will be 50/50 at best.
Really this pub needs a makeover. It has hardly changed in 20 years and now looks a bit drab, as other people have said. Plus points are the beer garden, location and barstaff (usually).
anonymous - 12 May 2006 10:06 |
Used to have some decent real ale on, but now only crappy green king ipa.
anonymous - 2 May 2006 14:45 |
I've known this pub since it was called "The Railway Tavern" but rarely venture in these days. The external decor is in urgent need of attention if the casual commuter is to be tempted in. Beer is OK but there's not a lot to commend it.
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Some excellent live music but at times too bloody loud! The pub's too small for all the amps. Your eardrums start to itch and then they start to bleed! Make sure you get there early and get to the back! Often very quiet during the week though.
Jon - 20 Sep 2004 22:38 |
Friendly pub, John the Landlord is a good guy. Good beer & quality live bands on a Saturday night. If you like live Rock/Blues music give it a try
Dave W - 10 Sep 2004 14:21 |
this pub's a bit like the local football team - below average.
Stuart - 20 Apr 2004 13:48 |
Good atmosphere on Palace matchdays
jeff - 6 Dec 2003 16:12 |
John the landlord is a quality fella. Been there in the day time a couple of times, and have played pool for free with the barman, as its sometimes quiet
paul - 26 Nov 2003 14:58 |
Agree with the above, though real ale is a bit hit and miss some times
richard - 25 Nov 2003 20:27 |
Quality little boozer by Norwood junction station. Chilled out during the weekend, with bands appearing. Busy on matchdays, load of palace fans. Does a quality pint of Greene King IPA at the moment
tom - 25 Nov 2003 20:22 |
