The Harvest Home, Beddington, Croydon

Facebook page of The Harvest Home - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Harvest Home - www.facebook.com

Located on a busy through road, just outside the Beddington Lane Industrial Estate, this pub seems to do a decent trade thanks to nearby workers and passing motorists alike. The place is typical of this sort of roadside pub, with multiple rooms making it quite spacious and yet somehow it retains quite an intimate feel. The main room is carpeted with rather bold red panelling throughout. There is a wide variety of seating including banquettes and a couple of high tables with stools. A TV was showing Wimbledon coverage to a rapt audience who were seemingly getting ready for the imminent match featuring Andy Murray. To the left there is a very light dining space which has something of a conservatory feel to it, and access to the outdoor decked seating space and car park could be gained through this room. The right hand side of the pub is quite shallow, with just a single small lounge room dominated by a stone fireplace and chimney above which there are a number of old casks and bottles displayed. A TV was also on in this room. A visit to the toilet requires a bit of a stroll to the very back of the building down a narrow corridor which is decorated with some rather nice framed potted histories of various local pubs of yesteryear. Food rather than beer seems to be the raison d’être here, although I have to say that it wouldn't have struck me to so much as check out the menu had it not been for the rather prominent advertising of food throughout the pub. There are two hand pumps which offered the classic couplet of London Pride and Young's Ordinary - a sure sign that this is not a pub big on ale. Having said that, the Young's was decent enough for £2.50 and the landlord seemed pretty chuffed that I'd ordered a pint. It's a bit of a tired looking place to be honest but there isn't a great deal of competition in the area, so I'm sure it will continue to serve its regulars well. Not one I'm likely to return to if I'm honest, but I can see that it will appeal to some.

The Harvest does make an attempt to serve good beer, but possibly doesn't get the turnover necessary to make it consistently good. It seems to specialise in food, with a separate restaurant area.