please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
what a load of old bollocks from shihan/landlord..
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Although the Pub was OK, the people who go there are the scum of the earth.
My Brother was beaten up badly outside the pub for no reason and nobody at the pub would help or call the police. The landlord then started to threaten my brother and kicked him out covered in blood. Stay away this Pub is bad news.
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My wife and I visited the Oval as we had been told it had been taken over by a new landlord who really takes pride in his beer. As we had finished work late we decided to pay the pub a visit. Had to use the GPS to get my bearings but to my suprise it literally is a stones throw from East Croydon station.
Upon entering we were greeted with a warm cosy pub with lots of nooks and crannies great if you like to sit and people watch, chat and enjoy the beer. Music played in the background and did not impede quiet conversation just adding to the atmosphere.
I chose a pint of Doombar and my wife had a half pint of Strongbow. The Doombar was certainly on form, smooth with brussels lace very morish and quaffable, the Strongbow was also spot on. Of late when we have gone into the pubs in the area pub we never seem to both get what we want it's either good beer and average to poor cider or the other way round. 10 out 10 landlord.
The landlord in question is called Graham apparently he is an ex Rugby player with the nickname of Beastie and his wife Jan were a delight to chat with and made us both feel like we had been regulars for years. We didn't try the food but if is anything like the beer they are on to a winner. We would highly recommend a visit if like ours this is your idea of a good night midweek. Good chat good beer and cosy surroundings.
Apparently they have live music towards the weekend...... Rock and Blues....sounds like a good way to end the week .
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used to go to the oval but stopped due to too much Blues type music almost had me crying in my beer.Found new management to be very pleasant and have bought in live rock bands on Saturdays have been for the last 5 weeks and had a great time.Beer as improved too just wish more people came there.
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From my perspective, I am undecided about the new team.
It's a shame that a lot of the old prints, pictures, LP covers and other knick knacks have been removed; and no real effort made (yet) to replace them as a deal of atmosphere has passed with them.
But: no matter - that can come later; and the new people are the new people, and so what of them?
1. They have yet to reveal themselves to be personalities like their predecessor. As yet, while pleasant enough, one couldn't really describe them as personable and certainly not as 'hosts'. This may well change as they relax into the roles, but at the moment they need to cheer up and chat up a bit.
2. Ale good, perhaps even slightly improved in the keeping. Prices remain keen (locally) at under £3 quid a pint.
3. Live music policy remains intact, although it is in this respect I'm not hopeful. Not only have the first of the rock/ tribute/ cover bands been booked; but I overheard one of the new guys slagging off Big Joe Louis - a London blues stalwart. One criticism was that Joe was out of tune. This belies ignorance of the genre, as he wasn't if you're Son House or well versed in blues records c. 1948.
Based on other overheards, I am expecting a lot more SRV, Claptonesque rockist nonsense and like as not the regular appearances of Rik Martin, Bad Influence etc.
In which case, it'll be time to move on.
In the meantime, while signs are not promising, one will try not to judge hastily quite yet.
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Not been for a long time, but went again recently, and will be going back. Good beer, good music, and is getting more music too! Skip the builders arms, go here instead.
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The Oval 6th November 2010:
Drinks: These were spot on....had a lovely pint of Butcombe Gold. My friend really enjoyed his Kronenbourg.
Price: Very reasonable at around £5.90
Music: A mobile DJ playing the likes of Peter Andre and "I'm a barbie girl"
Entertainment: Disco ! + Kareoke !
Clientele: A definite change to the crowd that used to frequent this place.
The pub has changed and definitely not for the better in my opinion...I felt saddened as I left because Croydon needed the Oval just the way it was.
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I know one of the new landlords well, they will not be changing anything. A confirmed ale drinker also!
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Heard the news about change of hands for this pub - its true. However, have found out from incoming landlords that contrary to the rumours flying around, it is NOT stopping the music and they intend to keep to the same format i.e. live music, blues on Sunday and various other nights along with rock, jazz, soul and any other music you can think of! Webite is to be updated with details soon. Definately not changing to a 'plastic pub' - thank goodness!
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Changing hands in October.
What the incomers will do is anybody's guess, but if the music ends it will be a severe loss to the local and London blues scene.
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A rare Sunday evening visit to this amiable backstreet pub. One of Croydon's better and - as with most of the Croydon's best (e.g The Royal Standard, Dog & Bull) - worth straying off the beaten track for.
It can be very quiet in the early part of the week, but builds towards very social Thursdays through Sundays; largely due to the interesting and quality Blues and Rhythm 'n' Blues acts staged here.
Yesterday's was no exception: a well attended gig for the excellent jump-swing/ Chicago blues turn Rollo Markee and the Tailshakers.
Ale on offer was Tiger and Proper Job; both of which were in good nick.
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Wide range of beer. Friendly atmosphere, people seem to go there to enjoy the live music that's put on. Good quality ales.
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The sort of pub where you go in for a quick half and end up having 3 pints.......say no more. Consistently good real ales and very friendly staff and customers.
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Great locals' pub with friendly staff and customers. Refreshingly free of corporate bores unlike some of the other pubs in the area. Excellent live music events - mainly blues. Normally 2 well-kept real ales. Highly recommended.
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Great! Went to the Thursday blues night and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Good music, good beer, good crowd and friendly service. Nice.
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Quite a nice backstreet pub, five minutes or so from east Croydon station.
The interior is quite spacious with ample room for a pool table, dartboard and DJ area. All the seating is arranged around the edges of the room, presumably to make room for the live music, but it does leave the place feeling a bit empty and cold, despite the nice, low beam ceiling. Would imagine this pub is better when it's full and there is some music on. For a quiet pint, I prefer the Builder's Arms, just down the road.
There were two guest ales on tonight. I tried the Tiger, which was fine. Not much other choice though.
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A bit hidden away, but only a short walk from East Croydon satation. Fairly basic pub, but obviously makes an effort with an interesting line-up of live music events. Nice pint of Caledonian Ale Lang Syne.
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beerlover 666, I would tend to see your point but having met the guvnor of the Glamorgan I would have perhaps gone for corpulent instead of corporate !
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A fine, real pub, and a bolt-hole for those who are increasingly fed up with the Glamorgan's pandering to drunken corporate bores. There are usually a couple of real ales available; the pub also has a pleasant beer garden.
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Awesome place, away from the troubles of Croydon. A great place to go if you want nice people, a decent pint and a garden. Ooooh yes.. a garden. ALWAYS good!
Summertime down there are pretty nice indeed!
Once of Croydon's nicest pubs, definitely worth a look if you don't mind a little (very short) walk out of the town centre.
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This is another real pub and probably one of the top pubs in Croydon. It's unpretentious, the staff are friendly, there's a garden, a pool table and dart board.
There are usually two real ales on and they change regularly and are often ones I've not tried before. The food is cheap and good value but don't expect cordon blue cuisine for that price, it's just good honest fare.
They also play early ska and soul music, which suits me just fine.
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Top ale, staff & guvnor. Definitely the best in Croydon, even has live music acts. Great atmosphere, and a nice suntrap garden.
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This is a bit of a hidden treasure and the beer garden is like a little magiacal well kept secret, and wonderful on a sunny afternoon as it is a proper sun trap but they DO have shade for those who need it. £5.60 for two smirnoff and coke? I WILL be here regularly this summer!
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Enjoyable visit, cosy place with a great beer garden that was packed during my sunny Sat visit. There was a BBQ in motion, but was exclusive of a private party, which was a shame as it smelt good. Still at least the garden didnt get shut off for it...
Stuff are fairly prompt. Small range of ales but the one I had was really nice
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I don't think you could ask for more from a pub. It is certainly the best pub I've been to in Croydon and I've been to a few though any suggestions are welcome. The staff are really warm and friendly. They manage the fantastic art of being sociable yet fast at serving drinks which seems to be an almost dead skill. The crowd are a good mix of friendly older locals and younger patrons who all seem to rub shoulders and mix really well. The food is top notch, o.k. I've only had the Sunday roast but it's always been good, well priced and a decent size portion. Nice garden out the back and a top notch quiz machine (ok not everyone's cup of tea but I like them) which still has the sound tuned on (good for players) but it's turned down enough that it doesn't annoy everyone else. Good selection of beers as well.
The faults? Bit of a trek to get to the toilets and the location is a bit tucked away. As neither of these can be helped without major refurbishment/moving there's not a lot you can do about it. Highly recomended.
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A good locals' pub with an excellent live music programme. The beer quality, whilst generally OK, does drop from time to time particularly during warm weather.
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Whilst I never had a "bad pint" as such, I stopped going here during warmer weather as the ales were always served totally unchilled. It's been dropped from the 2008 good Beer Guide.
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The Oval's open 12-3 & 4:30 to 11 mon-fri and all day saturday & sunday.
homemade food 12-3 mon-fri & 6-9 friday nights and excellent homemade roasts on Sunday.
A brilliantly secluded suntrap garden, seating about 50.
The music ranges through funk, blues, soul, rock, jazz, latin, ska, punk, and so and so on.
Dj's on Friday Nights, Live Music (mainly blues) on Sundays (from 5) and Wednesdays (from 7).
Artists have included Lazy Lester & James Hunter (google them if you don't know).
Usually a couple of well kept cask ales available, and several flavoured Sambucas.
It's 20 minutes from London Bridge & Victoria and is less than 1 mile from 3 train stations and tram lines.
The atmosphere is always good and your life can only be improved by visiting The Oval.
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Trainman was perhaps a bit unlucky - not least as they answer the 'phone when I've rung. Beer offer is normally good - Night Watchman and Pedigree for instance on 09-08-07 (although they do run out on occasion). The Blues nights are every Thursday and usually feature high-quality, well-known acts - and this is reprised on Sunday afternoons too.
All-in-all a comfy, friendly 'boho' boozer - especially if you like British R'n'B.
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Couldn't check opening times before returning here as the number listed above 'does not accept incoming calls'(!) However, it was open at 14:30 but only one of the four handpumps was in action as they were 'waiting for a delivery'; so no beer for a few days then? The Waggledance was warm & fairly unpleasant. I liked the rather bohemian look & feel of the place but I was the only customer and the beer & dodgy 80s funk drove me away pdq. Pity, as I liked the idea of the occasional blues programmes they put on but this correspondent cannot identify with many of the positives listed by others below.
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I like it here. One of my 2 favorite places in croydon. This and the Green Dragon for it's friendly staff and a mixed crowd.
And you get 35ml spirits for a a really good price.
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CLOSED at 15:30 yesterday. Check opening hours before travelling!
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Heavenly place. We didn't know it was here for the longest time, what a relief.
Good ambience, proper dodgy pool table, dart board. Beer Garden. They play music you've probably never heard before (unless you really know music) of the reggae, ska, alternative variety. All good stuff. The beer is a considered collection, and poured with pride.
anonymous - 12 Apr 2007 14:35 |
Great Pub. The Guv'nor is a top man. Very friendly and accommodating although not very good at pool!! I tried to teach him when i lived in "the ranch"
Great beer, awesome music, friendly owners, tasty women..need i say more ?
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Used to use this pub when I worked in Croydon and had a leaving do there. It is definitely the best pub in Croydon. Nice relaxed athmosphere friendly locals and friendly owner.
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I made an effort to visit after seeing its inclusion in the 2007 GBG. Just two ales on my visit: an Adnams seasonal and Marston's Witches Brew. Beer was served in good condition but not at all chilled, which doesn't suit my personal taste.
I did like the pub itself though. A quirky backstreet local with a laid back bohemian feel. Understated "student bedsit" decor; not too tatty, not too trendy, just had a nice lived-in feel. Old music memorabilia on the walls, 60's blues, ska, soul music playing at a sensible volume. Nice place for a session.
Different enough to be well worth a detour if it's to your personal taste.
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Real Ale here is usually good often very good, no regular fixtures they are constantly changing.
Elected to the 2007 Good Beer Guide for the first time - one to keep an eye on.
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Best pub in croydon. Darts, pool, reasonable prices, nice garden, nice staff, good attitude, great music. Plus it was in Peep Show which makes it even more legendary. Only one minus point is they don't have a quizza, but i like to think that this is only because a quiz machine is not always conducive to banter.
Long live the Oval.
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Ooooh this is nice friendly pub. Its dark and heavily beamed with nice big tables in nooks to sit at. Beer is great and with guest ales too. - not badly priced. The music is an eclectic mix of 60's rock and mowtown and the staff are really friendly - just like a welcoming boozer should be. Its a little gem.
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I've never been here, but it's the pub that Mark and Jeremy go to in Peep Show. So that's a recommendation of sorts.
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Fab pub. Fit chicks. Great pint. Loud music
anonymous - 10 Nov 2005 01:13 |
Love this place. Many reasons to go: chilled out for all the right reasons (not in a pretentious hoxton/shoreditch 'chilled' way. I mean in a great atmosphere and well arranged design condusive to jibber jabber way), great staff (I hesitate to call them this, as you feel more like a guest and they are so friendly and up for it), good beer and music and not a chav in sight. I like this place so much that I am tempted to tell you NOT to go, so it won't change.
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Wicked pub with always an interesting mix of the right people that are trying to avoid the hell of Croydon High Street. This place has cool music, great staff and generally a cool atmosphere. Great place for Croydon people to meet with friends and chill out on your way home or if you want to escape the trip to town.
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A blinding, friendly pub with great music and an eclectic and chilled out crowd. Fantastic beer garden, live blues on Sunday afternoons. Excellent for a packed Friday (get there early for chairs, people) great for a pre-club Saturday (East Croydon a 5 minute stumble) and God-designed for chill-out Sundays (roasts as well.) A top boozer!
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Lots of fit blokes in here
anonymous - 3 Jun 2005 13:26 |
I like this pub. I go here once or twice evey few weeks. Friday night is better than Saturday with dj's playing all kinds.
Similar to the Ship in the kind of people it attracts but they have slightly different music.
Pool table, which seems to take up half the pub though.
Nice staff, my kind of pub!
anonymous - 19 May 2005 11:29 |
Nice little pub. Has a pool table.
Stef - 24 Sep 2004 13:43 |
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