The Green Dragon, Croydon

Official site of The Green Dragon - www.craft-pubs.co.uk

The previous review still very much applies. The attempt to make the interior 'trendy' is forgivable due to six handpumps offering a splendidly varied range of beers, plus a good selection of boxed ciders (and a perry) for those so inclined. Beers sampled were in top form (Cask Marque listing).

This is a huge monolith of a pub. Inside it's got a ceiling that's high even by Victorian standards. It's a shame that the effect is spoiled by the metallic pipework/trunking everywhere. I can only assume it's there as some sort of heating and/or air conditioning system, but it would have been better had it been made less obtrusive. But that's just my opinion - maybe others prefer visible trunking as a decorative feature. On the plus side the walls still have good quality fielded wood panelling on them, and the original vestibule serves the main corner entrance. The floors are a mix of bare boards and faux quarry tiles, with the space broken up by Indian style rugs. Furnishings are mainly normal tables and chairs, with a few tall tables/tall stools here and there. There's a pool table on the right. But the big plus here is the ale selection. On handpump were Abbot Ale, St Austell Proper Job (£1.75 a half), Gloucester Brewery Galaxy, Twickenham Naked Ladies, and Sunny Republic Shark Head, with a couple more on stillage. There were menus in racks on all the tables. I'm not sure why the racks had on them the edict in German to order at the bar; perhaps Croydon does get German tourists who don't know the drill, or perhaps they are predicting The Eagles' Champions League future entertaining the likes of Bayern Munich? They have toilets both upstairs on the upper floor, and in the basement, the passages to which seem to have retained some of their original tiling. The door to the upstairs Gents had "Ladies" on the inside - a bit confusing when the door is left open (which it was when I visited it). I didn't look to see what was on the inside of the door to the ladies! Anyway, this pubs lacks the old school intimacy of the nearby Royal Standard, but it's still a destination pub as far as Croydon is concerned.

The interior of the Green Dragon feels as though it is split in two by arches that separate the bar area to the left from seating and a pool table to the right. The toilets are located down a flight of stairs at the rear of the pub and up the stairs is an advertised function room. There is a disabled toilet, but any wheelchair bound visitors may need some help getting up the step at the entrance. Standard draught is available from the bar that also supports six hand pumps. During my recent Wednesday afternoon visit one of these hand pumps was unused leaving Roosters Londinium, Wychwood’s Hobgoblin, Hogs Back Brewery’s T.E.A., Thwaites Wainwright and Vale Brewery’s Black Swan as the ale options. Food is available and after a quick glance at the menu I learned that the mains are priced around the £8 mark. During my visit there was some background music playing and I noted the presence of some plasma screens that I think were off. I found the service to be friendly enough and would have no problem returning if unfortunate enough to be in the area again.

Liked this pub a lot.Good busy typical High st pub.May not suit the traditionalists but the beer choice will.Shame about the stillage beer hidden behind the bar unloved ,underused and warm.Reasonably priced beer for this style of pub.

I was a regular visitor to The Hogshead in my Croydon days and, to me, the Green Dragon seems little different. It was always a busy beer pub with a good buzz and that seems to be the case still. On my recent visit, 5 of the 6 pumps were in action, along with one of the back-of-bar stillages. Commendably, all were conforming to a Locale policy, with Hogs Back and Dark Star both featuring twice. I didn't spend so much time surveying the lagers, but did note a tap for Kozel, which is a bit left-field. Prices were keen too: my pint cost just £2.95. The one negative note was that staffing seemed to be limited to a sole barman, who also had to take food orders, serve the meals and clear glasses as well (maybe that's how they keep the prices down!). Not to worry, though, service at the bar was still swift and efficient and the fella kept a good sense of humour, despite the pressure. One for me to return to, I'd say.