Beatbox, Croydon

Official site of Beatbox - www.boxpark.co.uk

Official site of Beatbox - www.boxpark.co.uk

This unusual bar is one of just two wet-led ventures in the new Boxpark development in East Croydon and appears to be the official bar for the venue. Located under the stairs at the station end of the complex, it's a fairly drab open plan affair with a dark concrete floor, a row of pillars through the centre with small drinking ledges around them and a complete lack of seating unless you count the series of stage blocks which are stacked down either side of the room to create a couple of mini-terraces on which to perch yourself. It's all highly uncomfortable and I assume when there is a show on in Boxpark, the stage blocks are removed from the bar, leaving standing room only. There is a DJ booth to the left and they promote regular music nights from up and coming local DJ's. Walls are decorated with black and white tiles in the Boxpark chevron pattern with strip neon lighting above and large windows to the front looking out at the underside of the staircase from the station. The bar is on the rear wall and has a shiny counter top and a black bar back bearing the name of the bar and some promotional logos from sponsor Coors Light. A TV was showing a promotional video whilst a contemporary soundtrack played at a fairly loud volume. As with most of the other Boxpark enterprises, you can take your drinks out to the main seating area, but the heaters in the bar made it notably warmer than the main arena, which is worth bearing in mind through the winter months. There is no cask ale available here, so you're left with the prospect of Coors Light, Staropramen, Sharp's Pilsner, Rekorderlig cider or other mainstream brands if you want something on draught. I opted for a bottle of Goose Island IPA, which I spotted in the fridges next to bottles of Brewdog Dead Pony Club. This 355 ml bottle, which I could get from the Sainsburys over the road for £1.80, set me back £5.00 and bizarrely I was not allowed to pay by cash for reasons the barman struggled to explain. As the flagship bar in such a supposedly cutting-edge development, this is a massive disappointment and shows the need to cosy up to global brands was of greater consideration than supporting local businesses. Fortunately, the Cronx Brewery Bar at the opposite end of the complex continues to put excellent beer on and most of the food outlets also have a few interesting beer options available, all of which is preferable to the rubbish on offer in here.