Elliott's, Purley

Curious little bar with a split-level layout and a limited amount of mixed furniture (mostly spindly, tall 'wedding cake' platforms with stools plus a few small café-style tables). Surprisingly, perhaps, the London Pride is still available on handpump (£3.60).

If the nearby Rectory is the watering hole of choice for Purley's youths, then this simple single room bar is where all their Dads appear to hang out. The pub comprises of a single, small room, probably a shop conversion, which was packed tight with punters enjoying the Man Utd vs. Chelsea title decider on my recent visit. This made it tricky to guess what it would be like on a normal day, as it appeared that seating had been cleared out as it was standing room only by the time I arrived. There are mirrors just about everywhere you look in an, ultimately vain, attempt to make the place look a bit bigger than it is. A few panoramic landscape pictures line the wall and there are some old school photographs near the door, although I was unable to figure out the relevance of these. As you might expect on such a day in Purley, a Chelsea flag was draped behind the bar, so you can imagine what the atmosphere was like when I walked in just as Utd scored a decisive second goal. The staff did their bit to raise spirits, bringing round some tasty platters of food at half time, which seemed to be appreciated by all. Some fans had already given up at this point and took their beers out to the pavement seats which are easily accessed as the front of the pub can be opened up, cafe style. There was only one handpull on the bar that I could see (my view was impeded by the general crush), which was dispensing London Pride. My pint was in surprisingly decent condition and I was encouraged to see I wasn't the only one drinking it. I expect this place has a loyal band of locals and given the hospitality of the staff, that is how it should be. However, I'm not sure it would be the greatest place to spend an evening and I suspect that I would have left with a very different impression had I visited at a less manic time.

Official site of Elliotts, contains menu and wine list - www.elliottspurley.co.uk