The Cricketers, Croydon

A pleasant surprise in what could be an unexceptional suburban pub. The interior has a tidy, spacious feel, probably from the clear wooden floor and plain furniture. A roaring logburner on each side of the room is welcome on a winter's day, while a nice homely touch is given by vases of fresh flowers sprinkled around the bar. Three large screens keep the locals amused with sports, although no-one seemed much interested as the 1.40 from Chepstow wound its course. To one side is a proper dartboard set-up, as opposed to the many hidden behind dining tables found elsewhere. Garden at rear, as well as a few pavement tables. Draught ales at time of visit were Hogs Back TEA, Dark Star Hophead, Harvey's Best and Doom Bar. One of those pubs that just feels nicely run and welcoming.

This is a down to earth old school pub with no real frills apart from it sells an excellent range of good real beer. It is a large square single room with the bar occupying the middle of the back wall, carpeted, some wood panelling and a painted wooden fake beamed ceiling. Seating is traditional at standard tables, decor includes a few sporting prints, cricket and rugby related, an interesting old map of London by Crutchley, and a whole load of Crystal Palace FC stuff. If you miss the pennants, branded dartboard, P4 LAC numberplate on display then you may be jogged into realising by the Palace branded glasses and named beer. No matter, despite my non affiliation to the club I received good and friendly service from the barmaid and was immediately involved in a bit of banter with a few locals. There is a good real ale policy here, on my visit there were Fyne Ales Jarl, Great Orme Brewery Celtica, Morrisey's Palace Blond...the official beer of guess who would you reckon?...Old Rosie Cider plus two reversed, one of which was clearly Hophead. All therefore light beers but that suits me in summer. The food menu took me back a decade or so, cheap and cheerful proper pub food for drinkers, chip butties (£2.50), Jacket spuds, Welsh Rarebit and omelettes. There are not many of these basic old boozers about anymore but this one survives on good values, great beer and decently priced snacks. Certainly worth walking up from the Claret and also served by the tram at Addiscombe.