The Spread Eagle, Croydon

Fuller's tend to get it right with bank conversions and this is no exception. Quite a grand interior with a theatre/cinema space upstairs.

Clean, bright, offering a large range of Fullers beers in very good nick, had a plasma showing rugby (dk if they have sky), and the service was quick & friendly. After this visit, my calling this place bland-looking in a comparative review (of the Ship) now seems a little unfair.

The Spreadeagle is a Fullers Ale & Pie House that is located in an old bank. The bar faces the entrance and is bookended by seating areas to the left and right. To the right there is also a flight of stairs which I did not venture up. The surroundings and décor suggested to me that the two plasma screens that I spotted would be for showing rugby and tennis on BBC. So I was surprised to see Sky Sports News being aired and advertisements for Premier League Football. My visit was on a recent Wednesday evening when the pub was not at its busiest. Alongside a standard draught selection were six hand pumps that were drawing Fullers London Pride, ESB, HSB and Front Row alongside George Gale’s Spring Sprinter and Twickenham’s Page 24. Food is available all day and the price of most mains was knocking on a tenner. Whilst in the toilet I spotted an advertisement for the attached theatre and I think that there is a weekly comedy night, although I did give up trying to decipher the poster. I found the governor here to be very polite and I would return if in the area again.

A former Natwest bank,with a grand exterior and next door to the impressive Town Hall this is one of the few attractive areas of Central Croydon.It's a Fullers tied pub,so expect their very high pricing for all drinks.You enter the pub up a flight of stone steps,and into an open plan,high ceiling room with a staircase to the right leading to a section which was closed off on my trip for a private function.Notices also advertise that there is a theatre here,meaning I would guess small performances in this upstairs section.The bar is directly infront of the front door and the gents is around the back of the bar ,downstairs in what was probably the vault.There is a lot of wood panelling around,furniture is traditional looking with some chesterfield sofas thrown in for good luck.There are three flatscreens with Sky Sports,making this a popular spot to catch live footie so the atmosphere can be more bouyant than the surroundings might suggest. The six handpumps were drawing London Pride,ESB(decent),Front Row,HSB and Spring Sprinter from Fullers with a single guest of Twickenham Page 24 Biere de Mars (OK condition). Two pints and a double whisky were eye wateringly expensive,but at least the grandeur of the place and an upbeat vibe was a bit of an offsetting factor.

Good Fullers pub with 5 Fullers beers on handpump and a guest beer. I had the Cronx -kotchin which was superb. Nice little outside area when the weather is nice.

This is a Fullers Ale and Pie House occupying a prominent street corner position on the edge of the High Street virtually next door to the Town Hall. It’s a former bank and those who are familiar with the Ale and Pie concept will know what to expect – wood panelling, impressive chandeliers, columns and an upstairs balcony with additional rooms. In contrast to many of the other Ale and Pies which, being based in the City of London, do not open at weekends, The Spread Eagle does normal pub hours on both Saturday and Sunday. On my recent Sunday lunchtime visit, the pub was quite busy with a broad mix of customers of both sexes and all age groups. A number of TV screens dotted around the place on both floors were showing football and rugby matches and a good natured atmosphere dominated throughout. The normal range of Fullers and Gales branded beers were available and the Pride was in good form. The pub has been a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular in recent years. You should include this one in any Croydon crawl.

Randomness Guide to London - Spreadeagle entry

Randomness Guide to London - Spreadeagle entry

Fullers pubs seem to be becoming clones of each other especially the Ale & Pie Houses. This one is no different, tiled floors, a couple of sofas, loads of dark wood and etched glass, a good range of beers and horrendously expensive.