The Waddon, Waddon, Croydon

Located close to the busy Fiveways Junction and almost opposite Waddon train station, this is a decent sized community local. The pub, which is a strange wedge shape dictated by its position between two converging roads, has recently undergone an extensive refurb which has smartened it up considerably both inside and out. The front of the pub is carpeted with some leather sofas and tub chairs around the bar and a raised area to the left of the entrance which has some additional seating. Some large black and white photos of local scenes line the walls and there are a decent number of trophies on display above the pub notice board. Past the right hand end of the bar, the pub widens and there is a good deal of banquette seating and some high tables, whilst an open area has enough room for a pool table. There is a fairly large outdoor patio with loads of benches but this isn’t the nicest place to sit given its proximity to the busy roads that flank it. There were several TV screens on during my stay, all showing At The Races. There was just the one ale available on my visit – an admittedly impressive pint of Bass which was good value at £2.80 – although a second hand pump had a turned pump clip and I believe two ales are normally available. The landlord made a point of asking the barmaid to pull the beer through before pouring my pint as mine was the first of the day. Given the pub’s location and my low expectations for the place, this ended up as something of a success. The landlord clearly cares about the quality of his beer and certainly knows how to keep a nice pint of Bass. Whilst it’s not really worth the effort to go out of your way to visit, it is at least a decent community pub in an area seriously lacking in drinking options.

Randomness Guide to London - Waddon entry