The Builders Arms, Addiscombe, Croydon

Randomness Guide to London - Builders Arms entry

This is a Fuller’s pub, and had on four of their ales – ESB, HSB, London Pride and Chiswick. Being a Fuller’s pub, a decent range of food was available on a weekday lunchtime. Ciabbatta wraps, including some salad and a generous portions of chips, were between £5 and £6 as I recall. I hadn’t visited this pub before the refurbishment mentioned by Pubsignman so can’t make comparisons, but is still a good pub by any standards, and was easily the best pub I visited in Croydon. It’s tucked away down a smallish street off the busy Lower Addiscombe Road, and still has two distinct rooms joined by a doorway past the bar counter. The room on the left looks as if it’s the old saloon bar, and is where I spent my visit. The room is bare-barded at the front with a carpeted area further back, and which looks as if it might have been extended at some stage to create a fairly large room. It’s large enough to have two fireplaces – both alight with real log fires - on the left, indicating that it was originally two rooms (at least). This room leads to a garden at the rear. Furnishings are comfortable as well, but with one or two armchairs dotted around and just one tall pedestal table and tall stools. The “public bar” room is more basic, with mainly tall tables/stools as furnishings. The pubby atmosphere is complemented by the black Labrador padding around the place; presumably the pub dog considering the air of ownwership and confidence he displayed in his perambulations. I like Fuller’s ales so was happy with the ale choice. The pint of Chiswick I had was in excellent nick, and I still find it surprising that so many Fuller’s pubs don’t offer this great session ale as a regular. Good beer, good food, warm and comfortable pub – that’ll do for me. I’ll be happy to pay a return visit sometime. I just wish I had known it when Pubsignman had it as a regular haunt.

This Fullers pub underwent a refurb last year which effectively changed its appearance from 'traditional' to 'modern-gastro'. The pub certainly was looking a little tired and the refurb admittedly looks great, but more than the decor seems to have changed and what was a regular haunt of mine, has now almost slipped off my radar, as increased beer prices and sloppy service have become annoying new features. Three Fullers beers are usually available (Pride, Chiswick and ESB - Honeydew is on tap sometimes as well) and there has been a dip in the quality of the ales to boot. A shame, as this had a great community pub feel before, which seems to be slipping away, despite a loyal band of regulars still propping up the bar. Has a fantastic beer garden, so still worth a look in the summer, but sadly not the pub it used to be.

The Builders Arms page at the official Fullers brewery site - www.fullers.co.uk

The Builders Arms page at the official Fullers brewery site - www.fullers.co.uk