please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Have been back under protest and was pleasantly surprised! I was welcomed and the food was good, limited range of beer but a nice buzz about the place. May go back for lunch and a pint, but no rush.
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I try not to give bad reviews...So I won't!
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Food was very good, staff pleasant, Range of real ales limited which waa shame but would definitely go back for the food
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Pub serves good food (had once) and fair selection of lagers, cannot comment on ales as i don't drink them. But seems that you are walking into an Indian restaurant, smell is intense plus most of the patrons and bar staff are ethnic. It may work in Bombay but doesn't work for me in Croydon.
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No real ales on tap which I feel the management could sort out.
Visited on Tuesday to watch the second half of the England game. Hadn't been in for a while so was shocked that this is now some kind of dual purpose indian restaurant pub!!
They had the game on TV and were willing to put different games on different screens for the Irish and Scottish contingent.
Well served pint of Stella �3.25 expensive considering the local competition.
For me the smell of Indian food was too overpowering, very few people were eating yet the smell was too strong to make this a local. Don't get me wrong I like Indian food but not overpowering my nasal senses.
The staff seemed attentive to patrons. The food looked superb and I am definately returning to eat here soon.
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At one time the Crown stocked Adnams Best Bitter,this has ceased and it no longer stocks a real ale.For a decent and RELIABLE pint in quiet suroundings the Skylark is south of here and the Royal Standard perches just behind.
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I preferred this place when the Irish chap ran it. (Can't remember his name, but then I can't remember my own name at the moment, so no worries then)
Can't say I'm smitten with it now.
Visited this place as a pitstop just before last Christmas for an 'intermediary' pint (you know, the ones that don't officially count) . Weekday afternoon, not particulary busy. I'm the only bod at the bar, waiting for the barmaid to drag herself from the other side, and a couple walk in, turns out they're mates of the her's and she blatantly ignores me and serves them. Well, I buggered off sharpish and not been back since.
Previous Christmas, won third prize in their raffle. What do I win? A pair flip-flops. In the middle of winter. FFS.
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I have been down to the Crown and Pepper a few times with some people from work.. Its not really a local for me, but well worth the visit.. The staff are friendly, and they make a mean mojito if you like that kind of thing.. Wing, the owner, is a top chap and very accomodating to your culinary needs..
They also seem to have every sports channel known to man, so there is always a game on..
Moving on to the food.. Chinese food and Indian food.. together, what a genius idea.. Why has no one done this before.. It is the answer to the age old problem..
"shall we go for a curry?"
"nah I fancy a chinese"
"If only we could get both"
I have mainly sampled the chinese food on my visits, and it is verrrry nice.. The sizzling beef is fantastic, not to mention the salt and pepper prawn things.
They also have those Shiiiish pipe things (is that what they are called) in the back garden. Makes your evening a bit different, and makes you lightheaded if your name is Kevin :-)
This pub has pretty much something for everyone.. (except Melon flavoured Merlot).. Get down there soon
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Been a couple of times now after work. Always had a friendly welcome. I'm not keen on spicy food but they've always managed to cater for my conservative tastes. Atmosphere good and the restaurant area has been packed on both visits which says something. Could do with a couple more 'Real Ales' but that's a minor quibble. Will definitely go back.
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Visited the pub last Friday with a group of 12 colleagues. Gosh, despite being extremly busy, found both the staff and management very friendly. Apparently I gathered that the place had been taken over by new owners very recently. Throughly enjoyed the Indian/Chinese fusion concept which we all thought was very good value for money considering the high prices being charged by other establishment around Croydon. The place was fully packed and judging by the number of people who were having a meal, I would say that this establishment will need to arrange pre-bookings in the near future. We throughly enjoyed ourselves and would highly recommend this venue which would be our location after our friendly cricket matches.
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After visiting this pub on a number of occasions under the old totalitarian management I was pleasantly surprised buy the new management who are Chinese and Indian partners. The part owner who is Chinese (and who served me) was most pleasant and chatty at serving me my drink. The drinks were still the same price, but it makes a big difference when you are treated in a courteous manner in common with a high-class establishment.
On informing him that my wife her relative and I would like to have a meal there the following day, he pulled out all the stops and asked me to reserve any table i wanted and asked me what they might like from the menu, which is Chinese/Indian fusion, insisting that it would be a memorable experience. The meals were tasty, generous and value for money, the table and bar service was flawless.
These new owners are really trying and although they are planning many changes I would recommend this establishment.
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I walked passed yesterday and saw a notice proclaiming" Under New management" . The pub has been closed for a revamp and did look ultra clean yesterday. The grand opening( how grand I don't know) took place at 4:30 Yesterday.We will soon see if there is life after death.I wish the new incumbents well , thet need all the help they can get.Not only has the place become a notorious cess pit, it is also stuck between two of the best pubs in Croydon!
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Yes indeed this used to be the Catherine Whel... In answe to the staff turnover i speak from experiance. As a bar manager now who runs three freeholds i can safely say ive never worked under worse management. I worked here for just over 5 weeks in my first week 6 members of staff quit and advised me to do the same. I ended up working two weeks on my own on my 5th week i collapsed due to exhaustion and broke a rib dude to cpr i was off for three days and went back to work in complete agony and was subsequently sacked
I advise anyone drinking or staff to find another complete shambles of a pub
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Just a question - didn't this use to be the Catherine Wheel?
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Lots of comfortable leather look sofas and armchairs but they were all empty at 7pm on a Bank Holiday Sunday. I got the impression that this was not unusual and the place has an air of inevitable failure around it. Not a bad looking pub with some attractive screens and leaded glass, they just need a few more customers. Others have commented on the prices and this might well be a reason people are going elsewhere, my single (25ml) JD & Coke cost �3.40.
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This pub gave me a feeling of d�j� vu when I popped in for the first time a couple of weeks ago, presumably because there are so many pubs like this throughout the country.
Set in a large, mock-tudor style building on one of the main streets into Central Croydon, the pubs presents a large, spacious interior, which is made to feel all the more spacious by the lack of people in there. Ales are very much an after thought, with lager clearly being the drink of choice here, although I was able to grab a pint of Adnam's Broadside for �3. Ouch! And there you have the crux of this place's problems. It's a large pub, not far from the competitively priced town centre bars, charging inflated prices (in the middle of a recession) and offering little in return.
Their one gimmick is the food. The sign outside proclaims this is a Piri Piri pub (although the menu didn't seem to back this up), and although I didn't try any, the food looked quite nice. However, there is a Nando's just up the road, so again, I can't see that being enough to drag folk in from the busier town centre.
There's nothing inherently wrong with this place, and by all accounts it has improved considerably from the pub I remember a few year ago, but I can't think of any good reason to come back again.
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I visited this pub recently, the Adnam's bitter is �3.15 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What makes them believe customers will pay that kind of money? The best cheap pint is obtainable in the Skylark('spoons) five minutes further down towards South Croydon, �1.99 and �1.59 Wednesdays.
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Hi Stellafellor, I agree with your review and would add that the access to the abled toilets is a tad awkard, up all those stairs! Can I use any disabled loo I wonder?
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Been to this pub a few times. Food is good and nice beer garden at the back. Fare selection of lagers but a little pricey. The management has improved although the new management is not exactly hands on style. When I was there recently the manageress was alone at the bar but when I went to be served she dashed outside to call the bar staff who were collecting glasses from beer garden. Can she pull a pint?
Also not keen on the blackboard in the gents as this is only used for graffiti.
Big screen tv�s showing football everywhere, but not everyone wants to watch it. They also go through a lot of bar staff. I wonder why?
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Been here a couple of times since the new management. The guy has done an excellent job in revamping the place and getting rid of the troublemakers. Excellent beer garden round the back, friendly staff, and even do Thai food as well. Worth a visit
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the first two reviews are genuine and relevant to present day after the take over by the new management in November 2006, whose hard work is reflected in the first two reviews.
The last 7 reviews need to be removed as they refer to the pub under old management
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Visited the pub in december 2007. what a total and pleasant change under a new ownership and management.
a refreshing old value system, a real pub where you can sit and talk without shouting, pleasant 70s - 90s music, polite staff and great value for money food at lunch and delicious spicey dishes and good wine in the evening. a typical office pub with WIFI. Great atmosphere. will be going regularly now. Mark
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Came in here on a thursday night with an old mate. Nice sized pub and beer was ok. Liked the atmosphere which is nice a friendly. However it was quiet for a thursday night. Drinks are slightly more expensive at �2.75 for a carling. Nice place to come for a quiet pint with a mate or the misses but not for a night out.
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Not a pub, although it looks like one. It's as if no one is interested or in control, and there's an ineffective committee making useless decisions which are ignored by the staff.
I was taken here by a lager-drinking pal who wanted to watch sport on the big screen, and thought I'd at least have a pint of decent beer. Alas, despite 35 years of CAMRA, this place does not have anything except bog standard fizz. Had a bottled Guinness. You have to TRAIN staff to look after living beer. The dead stuff merely needs a spanner to attach the gas.
The ambience is odd. It looks, as I said, like a pub, but lacks the genuine feel of one.
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Dirty glasses. Miserable bar staff.
Avoid on grounds of extreme pointlessness.
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They don't do any form of real ale anymore.
I guess if you cant keep it properly, dont sell it.
I shall be moving on for this sin.
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Shame, but this is one to miss.
Floor space of the Skylark (minus the top floor), yet a friday night visit felt more like a wednesday morning pint. The non-existant clinetele may explain why the staff lack basic social skills. The occasional Karaoke attracts the usual drunkards and quickly ends your conversation. Found myself shouting "shall we go?" to a friend just across the table.
As for the drink, average quality, slightly more expensive than other non-wetherspoons pubs. Nice toilets though. A pity as it has great potential.
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Gone downhill, had an awful pint last time I went in, but they aren't interested in Real Ale customers any more obviously.
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A little off the beaten track if you want to go drinking on a Friday night and be near the clubs - probably more convenient if you're heading into Croydon on foot and need to quench your thirst. Still, plenty of charm and a good pub for people watching.
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Spacious pub with a nice big screen for watching sport. Limited range of beers and inexplicably pricy.
Not bad but needs something more to get the Boozywoozy seal of approval.
Boozywoozy - 3 Sep 2004 13:14 |
