Matthews Yard, Croydon

I visited Mathew’s Yard at 14:00 on a recent Thursday afternoon to find a knocked out building that has been converted into a community centre. The interior is L shaped with Ty’s Food Corner alongside another vendor that was offering tea, coffee and cake on the left hand wall. A small bar is situated on the rear wall to the left, but after an inspection I gleaned that there was no draught leaving a limited bottled selection. The only bottled ale I noted was a couple from Clarence and Fredericks Brewing Company who I believe are based in Croydon. Unfortunately the bar area was closed so I ended up with a cup of tea. I didn’t spot any televisions, but there was some American Deep South 1950’s background music playing through a cheap tinny speaker that was placed at the top of a small flight of stairs in a seating area to the right rear. This concrete flight of stairs that protrudes from the wall rises about five feet but doesn’t actually lead anywhere. The bare board floor, minimal décor and worn furniture give a real shabby feel that may be popular with some, but not me. There is an adjoining room full of benches where I imagine the advertised choir evenings and life drawing sessions take place, but again these are not my cup of tea. To be honest this place is how I imagine community life will be after the fallout has cleared from a nuclear apocalypse. Am I a snob? Probably - Shall I return? No.

Matthews Yard official site - www.matthewsyard.com

Matthews Yard official site - www.matthewsyard.com