The Phoenix, Croydon

demolished

Delighted to find this interesting little place is still here after my last visit 3+ years ago. The horse racing ephemera has now gone, maybe indicating a change of ownership. Now has the feel of an Irish club so prevalent in North London. Guinness £2.90 a pint. But strangely everyone seemed to be drinking cans rather than draught.

Trip down memory lane .... This was THE place to be at the weekend late 80's/90's, great craic, great athmosphere , live music + great beer,ran by a lady called Christine and stunning irish girl called Mary

This is a small shop conversion in a rather grim row of shops between West Croydon train and bus stations. The interior comprises of one small room, with a couple of booths and plenty of fake beams. The walls are red and white and have a selection of horse racing colours painted around the room. A large Courage brewery mirror is hung in one of the booths, but aside from that, the decor gives little impression that this is actually a pub. The horse racing theme was continued by way of a small TV screen which was showing 'At the Races' to the small handful of punters propping up the bar, whilst the radio blared away at quite a loud volume. Posters advertised the fact that the place is under new management and that a DJ night was imminent. The beer selection was very poor, with just four taps dispensing Fosters, Strongbow, Guinness and John Smith's (£1.40 for a half) and no hand pumps. Despite a few glimpses at potential, this is a pretty depressing place and I can only assume that it survives by virtue of the endless closures of other pubs in the area, which may have helped to force a few customers its way. Not one to head back to.

Weird little place, probably a converted shop and has a private members club feel to it. Has a horse racing theme with a number of framed silks on show.