The Apple Tree, Shirley, Croydon

Facebook page of The Apple Tree - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Apple Tree - www.facebook.com

This one is now the Apple Tree but physically the set-up sounds pretty much as PSM 13 and a bit years ago. Some tables and chairs (and umbrellas, suspect designed for a different purpose than would be required for today) out the front. So still long bar along the back wall opposite the entrance door. Nothing particularly interesting about the furnishing, mixture of regular tables and chairs, benches with stools, banquettes and some booth table along the wall on the right hand side of the pub. Beer wise a real rogues gallery. Lagers of Moretti, Fosters, Amstel and Heineken, Neck Oil, a couple of Strongbow ciders and Guinness, which was not on today. Not fancying any of that I had a bottle of Doom Bar as to early for my default of red wine if not fancying anything on the beer menu. Doubt I missed much, can’t imagine there would have been any gems on the wine by the glass menu! On way south on the train so a stop off to tick off some Croydon postal district suburb venues as little not ticked off in the town centre. Wasn’t expecting much here but Shirley area presented opportunity for some degree of a mini crawl. All I am hoping is this doesn’t turn out to be the highlight of a short session!

due to open next month

For real ale drinkers, stay away. It's very limited. They tried, but they do not know how to look after their lines or cellar. Very much a lager pub. During the day mostly unemployed folk 3 or 4 of them. However evening activities and the weekends have made this pub a lot more popular. Refurb few years back made a huge difference. And decent happy barmaids make the difference, if your lucky enough to get the happy ones (one particular one is always miserable and hugely annoyed at being disturbed from using her phone!!!!) But in all, if you want to have a fun evening, it's a good local pub. Very chatty. Not too much pub, but it hasn't claimed to be a restaurant. Should have a better name to be honest.