please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
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.
|
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.
|
Top ale, staff & guvnor. Definitely the best in Croydon, even has live music acts. Great atmosphere, and a nice suntrap garden.
|
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!
|
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
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
CLOSED at 15:30 yesterday. Check opening hours before travelling!
|
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 ?
|
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.
|
Love this place. During the week day and night it's a great pub for a quiet cosy pint or 7. From Thursday night all that changes with live music and DJ's. It's a must. Oh and fantastic beer and grub too.
http://www.myspace.com/theovaltavern
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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!
|
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 |
skip nav