The Crown, Shirley, Croydon

So still following PSM but with an even longer gap since his visit here. Remains an Ember Inns venue. Pretty pleasant and grand venue in its own right with the wrap around bar greeting you as you wander through the front door off the tarmac car park outside the front of the venue off the busy main round. Parquet flooring with some carpet off the area around the bar. Some seating outside out the back including some huts named after English monarchs and a room off to the left of the main bar where a casino evening appeared to be ongoing on my visit. Definitely set up for diners with the tables and chairs dotted around the entire venue but it felt like there was a good mix between diners and drinkers on my visit. Beer wise there was at least some cask here, namely London Pride and Five Points CPA that I went for and was in good condition. Plenary of keg choices, lagers being Camden Hells, Stella, Madri, Peroni, Carling and Coors, ciders being Stowford Press and Strongbow. Add Guinness and Wingman then you get the full picture here. This is the best pub of this short session in Croydon suburbs so far. Probably a 5+ rather than a 6 but went for the latter. There is a psychic evening here next Monday (I knew that 5 mins before I arrived and saw the sign out the front). So am channeling that energy to join the impromptu casino event next door. If I never post here again it is because I won big and am waiting until I start up PG venues and reviews in the Caribbean. In reality I am really channeling that energy into working out my next venue and whether it has better cask options than here.

This is a large Ember Inns pub on one of the main roads into Croydon. The pub is set up well for food and the barman informed me that they are undergoing a refurb that will give them a restaurant upgrade, so it's clear to see where the pub's priorities lie. To be fair, the food here was very good, with a fine menu and cheap prices. The interior is typical Ember Inn style, with pastel colours and floral print wallpaper giving it a gastro feel. The place was busy on a Friday night, although I had the impression that most people were there for a quick drink before heading into town and it did seem to have emptied out a lot by 9pm. There is a large garden at the rear and the pub operates a pay and display car park, which they refund once you make your first purchase at the bar. The ale selection was very good, with Harvey's Best (£2.35), London Pride (£2.55), Courage Best and Directors and Adnams Broadside all available at very good prices. I was served by a very friendly and chatty barman and the staff serving the table seemed very nice and helpful as well. A good pub to try if you want a cheap meal at somewhere other than a Wetherspoons and with good beer at those prices, I would be tempted to return more often, depending upon how their refurb works out.