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Picture of The Brief
Image posted by Graham Mason
Submitted on Wednesday, 10th December 2008
With picture contributions to 11805 other pubs
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Requested be closed with reason - Other: Pub currently closed. Apparently it has been sold by Greene King and is likely to re-open as a Pizza Express restaurant.

The Brief, Croydon

48 George Street
Croydon
CR0 1PD
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of The Brief (Average Rating: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Old Blue left this review about The Brief

I was there on Thursday and regrettably confirm PSM's fears. Still only GK beers - IPA well priced @£2.50 but not a great pint by any stretch of the imagination - and the venue still deteriorating, with no sign of live music.

It also seems to have picked up some slightly unusual regulars. I was seated at the end of the bar with a friend, who had to stand up to order a round at one point, whereupon a strange old man who'd just come in sat in his seat, apparently oblivious to the obvious signs that it was taken, and to our attempts to communicate this to him. We gave up in the end and found a free table, observing later the old man providing a glass collecting service around the pub. We did think of reclaiming our original seats back whilst he was doing this, especially when another strange old man came and sat at our table for no apparent reason, but felt that would have been provocatively petty. So a slightly weird visit really.

Despite all that, I still think this pub has some compensations. It is in immediate competition with the JDW almost opposite, the few bar staff are generally helpful even if overworked, and perhaps because of this combination of factors it seems to manage to be fairly steady but not horribly overcrowded like other pubs nearby. So it does seem to have a legitimate niche as the town centre pub you can hold a civilised conversation in after work, without making your friends trek further from the station.

So for all its failings I'm giving it a compassionate 5. Just don't expect a great pint, and hope no-one nicks your seat!

On 23rd December 2010 - rating: 5
[User has posted 271 recommendations about 270 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Old Brief

Blessed with a fantastic central location in the heart of Croydon, this pub should be pulling endless amounts of people through the door, but instead it appears to be really struggling.
A Greene King pub, there was GK IPA, Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen on offer when I came here on a recent Friday night. I tried two of each and failed to hit upon a decent pint all evening. There was also a decent lager selection and they had GK IPA Chilled on tap as well, which I couldn't quite bring myself to try.
The pub is very big, but over the last year or two they have partitioned part of it off and use the rear half for live music or private functions.
The place could do with a bit of a makeover, as every time I go in, more damage and disrepair can be spotted, such as missing banisters on the stairs or out of action urinals.
With the George over the road offering much cheaper and better beer, there really is no reason to use this place unless you intend to check out some of their live music.
Edit: As an update to my comment, I read this week that the live music venue is to be closed down and that part of the pub will now revert to private function hire only. Hard to see any appeal at all now. PSM - 23rd Feb 2010

On 24th February 2010 - rating: 3
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Clive Thompson left this review about The Old Brief

The Brief is one of the new style of upmarket Greene King bars. It has a nice laid back feel with some comfortable seating and plasma TV's showing sport. Raised area at the back for busy times. Beers included Hydes Jekylls Gold and Bath Gem.

On 10th May 2009 - rating: 6
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]

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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Old Blue
Latest updates View all updates for The Brief, Croydon
20th Dec 2011, 00:21
Picture submitted by john mcgraw approved
 
16th Dec 2011, 18:06
Picture submitted by john mcgraw

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  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
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