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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by David Walton
Submitted on Thursday, 23rd May 2024
With picture contributions to 996 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (7 more images)
Detail Pages
Trude, South Norwood, SE25
SE25
SE25 6EA
Served areas
Reviews of Trude (Average Rating: 4 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about Trude
Formerly the Alliance Arms, this place was closed to the public for a number of years before reopening as a Caribbean cocktail bar and members club, with a good location next to Sputh Norwood Clock Tower and station. The place has been fitted out as a modern bar, with a polished stone tile floor and walls, plus some faux stone wall cladding. Leaded and stained glass windows can be seen in the doors and windows down one side of room - a legacy of the former pub, but there's not much else of interest to catch the eye. The servery is directly opposite the entrance and has a tiled counter front with a polished stone top and simple bar back, all under a row of pleasant light fixtures. Seating can be found down both sides of what is quite a narrow room, entirely in the form of high tables and stools, with each stool having an unusual swivel seat feature that operates independently of the legs and back. Large potted plants add some colour to the room and I spotted a DJ booth to the rear and, more worryingly, an airport-style metal detector near the entrance, presumably for rowdier nights, or at least to comply with whatever stupid restrictions Croydon Council impose on late night venues these days. The high point of my visit had to be the selection of great afro jazz/funk tunes that were playing on a very quiet Sunday evening. This place always seems empty whenever I pass by, but I can only assume it must get busier later in the evenings or at weekends.
There is of course, no draught, so I ended up taking a Brewdog IPA 330ml bottle for a staggering £7.75! Menus detailled an extensive cocktail menu, but I'm not sure how much they cost, as I couldn't read it through my tears¹. For what it's worth, the barmaid was very friendly, but then I'd be all polite and smiling if I was making that kind of mark up.
I can't say this venue is my cup of tea, but then it's not aimed at customers like myself, so that's fair enough. It seems like a decent, if rather pricey, cocktail bar and if that's what you're looking for, then it could well be a safe bet, but there's nothing here for the beer drinker, so I can't see me returning.
Date of visit - 14th April 2024
On 17th August 2024
- rating: 3
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
David Walton left this review about Trude
Still here but now called Trude. Was worth the 10 mins to verify it was open and what it has to offer on the short walk back to Norwood Junction station. Was the only punter in here at 9pm and no sign of anyone joining or following me any time soon!
Pretty depressing on the quaffs front. No cask and obviously compared to Steve’s visit of yesteryear. Bland keg and bottle options not even worth listing at this point other than the BrewDog Punk IPA.
Ended up being a tick box exercise in SE25, but I knew that before I gravitated back to NJ station! In some respects I wasn’t disappointed!
On 23rd May 2024
- rating: 3
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ebenezer Crutton left this review about The Alliance
Another pub that has closed, I'm afraid. Although the blinds are closed, it is possible to see that some work has been done inside to dismantle the fixtures & fittings. I've uploaded an interesting picture, taken a couple of years ago...
On 6th March 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 9 recommendations about 9 pubs]
View more reviews of Trude (4)
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- Official site of Trude - www.truderestaurantandbar.com
- Facebook page of Trude - www.facebook.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Trude - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : No - No under-21s; ID required. - last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Function Room : No last updated 17 August 2024 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : No last updated 17 August 2024 by Pub SignMan
- Jukebox : No last updated 17 August 2024 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 17 August 2024 by Pub SignMan
- Live Music : Yes last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 17 August 2024 by Pub SignMan
- Micropub : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Real Ale : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
- Real Cider : No last updated 16 June 2024 by Tris C
