The Oval Tavern, Addiscombe, Croydon

It is difficult to reconcile this with the local pub I knew 40 years ago. Hiding down a residential street, the Oval has been widely refurbished with fake beams and old woodwork, furnished with old pews and other random seating, trimmed with sundry bric-a-brac and given a slightly hipsterish feel. There is one large room, with the bar off to one side and a stage at the back for the regular live music. There is a dartboard, but normally obstructed by tables. Downstairs at the back is a large patio-type garden in what was once the car park. Six assorted ales at time of visit were Proper Job, Tribute, Black Sheep, Robinson's Trooper, Holts Two Hoots and Westerham Bulldog. Condition of the latter was questionable, although in fairness it was the first out.

Nice old exterior with quite a dark bare boarded interior. 6 real ale taps 5 on. Live music advertised.

Couldn't check opening times before returning here as the number 'does not accept incoming calls'(!) However, it was open at 14:30 but only one of the four handpumps was in action as they were 'waiting for a delivery'; so no beer for a few days then? The Waggledance was warm & fairly unpleasant. I liked the rather bohemian look & feel of the place but I was the only customer and the beer & dodgy 80s funk drove me away pdq. Pity, as I liked the idea of the occasional blues programmes they put on but this correspondent cannot identify with many positives 27 June 2007 CLOSED at 15:30 yesterday. Check opening hours before travelling!

The Oval Tavern is primarily a live music pub with singers and bands advertised for most evenings. The interior is well suited with an open plan space that is broken up by a few thin supporting pillars. The stage area is found at the rear along with a DJ booth. Unsurprisingly there were no bands playing during my recent Thursday afternoon visit, but there was some background music of Asian/Middle Eastern descent playing. The bas is located along the right hand wall where Standard draught alongside Amstel can be purchased from a friendly barmaid. The bar also supports five hand pumps that were drawing St Austell’s Tribute, Hogs Back Brewery’s T.E.A. and three guest ales. The toilets are located downstairs where access can be gained to a large paved beer garden. I thought that this pub was OK and it probably comes into its own when hosting live events. I wouldn’t go out of my way to revisit, but I had a decent enough pint on this occasion.

This looks like a backstreet hidden gem from the outside, but inside it’s nothing of the sort. On the left is an exposed brickwork fireplace, with a large TV screen on the chimney breast. The area in front of the fireplace is dominated by a sound system, featuring two large speakers on tripods, presumably as the playing area for the live music. The pool table has been pushed into a corner next to the dartboard, and was covered by a board, I guess so that it could be used to support a buffet or suchlike. In fact, the pub felt a bit like I’d turned up the morning after the party before everything had been put to rights. Being the only customer made it feel somewhat gloomy in atmosphere, not helped by the black painted ceiling, pillars, and some of the walls. It should have been better than it was, with Old Hooky, Doom Bar, and Ringwood’s Bitter on. But the Ringwood’s wasn’t in good shape – remnants of line cleaner possibly. I suspect this is a great place as a music venue, but it was a bit of a disappointing visit for a lunchtime drink on a wet and dismal Friday in December.