The Dog, Croydon

Facebook page of The Dog - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Dog - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Dog - www.thedog.pub

Official site of The Dog - www.thedog.pub

Definitely not the old Dog & Bull I remembered, which was a very basic market boozer, but cleaned up and trying to go upmarket, or certainly aiming at a higher clientele at least. The island bar is still there but is surrounded by polished floorboards with a couple of butcher's block tables at the front. The side room is very tidy. while a sung area behind the bar is a bit more comfortable and seems to be where the regulars congregate. There is a surprisingly large outdoor area at the back. Cask ales on were Youngs Original, TT Landlord and Dorking Pilcrow Pale.

A very traditional Young's house in the middle of Surrey Street market and the previous hangout for market porters. The inside is noteworthy with an island bar,a small back snug with a selection of comfy chairs while to the right is a seperate side room with some high tables in the windows and dining type tables elsewhere apart from a rear red leather bound bench.There is good wood panelling,the front windows in obsured glass has some find mosaic animal pictures and internal corridors have been retained rather than opened out as is the case in many town centre pubs.The hanging picture give a good idea of Croydon past and the historic building that still survive. There are three handpumps drawing on my visit Youngs Ordinary and Special with guest Laines Darkling Stout (NBSS 3.5) .There is quite a craft keg selection from 8 taps,many from Laines but other brewers too.The BBC 24 hours news flatscreen was on mute and the wonderful polished wooden floor gave a classy feel to what is a most traditional boozer with a friendly welcome.I really like it,pop in if in the area..

Situated next to Croydon's market, this Young's pub has a main room with the central bar and a couple of side rooms. It was quiet on our Tuesday lunchtime visit, with no other customers apart from ourselves. As with the previous review, the beers were Young's Bitter & Special. Although, on our visit, they did also have a guest beer, which was Dorking Surrey XPA. Craft beers come by way of Camden Pale Ale & Laine's Fader IPA, Mangolicious, Ripper Session IPA & Source Pale Ale.

I really liked this traditional little market pub, great looking inside and out and in particular the leaded dimple glassed windows and central Island bar gave a great feel to the place. There were a few regulars in giving proceedings a nice buzz. There are two banks of three pumps one set each end of the ovate bar, there was only the choice of two beers , Youngs Bitter and Special, I had the Bitter and it was probably the best example of this beer I had tried in a number of years. I haven't done all of Croydons pubs but I would guess that this is one of the very best.

A long standing Croydon market pub probably going back centuries, inside is rather more recent, there is an island bar with the room extending back to the rear and side. There is some clearly old wood panelling, the leaded glass front windows have interesting inserts featuring horse and ram's heads, a likely link to the local market. There are framed pictures depicting various stages of a butcher's business. Still on the market theme a wall mounted sign refers to "Pearce's Bacon and Cheese". Despite the internal modifications you can still avoid the few high tables and stools, plenty of regular issue remain in usefully different sizes to suit groups small and large. The inevitable music played but this time a decent 60s soul/Motown background, TV muted. Youngs here if that's what they still are, Bitter, Special plus Hook Norton Old Hooky at £4. Liked it.