The Wandle Arms, Croydon

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Pub SignMan left this review about The Wandle Arms

This small street corner boozer must have once enjoyed a decent view across the adjacent Wandle Park, but now there is a large concrete bridge opposite which carries Croydon’s trams over the nearby rail tracks and on towards Wimbledon. This is probably one small factor among a great many that see this place struggling to pull people in through the doors.
The interior is actually quite nice thanks to a typical brewer’s Tudor style which sees the small L-shaped room dominated by dark wooden beams and the jugs and horse brasses that adorn them. Banquettes and tables with low stools line two walls with the only other seating in the form of bar stools. There are a couple of large mirrors opposite the bar counter and a list of licensees since 1865 is framed on one wall. An unused fireplace was set to the far left of the room whilst a large TV screen was also just collecting dust, abandoned in favour of the radio. There is a small section to the rear, which looked a bit tatty and housed a dartboard and what appeared to be DJ equipment.
No ales were available at the bar, with just John Smiths, Carling, Fosters, Stella, Guinness and Scrumpy Jack on tap. The barmaid was very friendly and tried to get me to join in with the conversation she was having with her regulars, one of whom had mentioned to me his concerns over the pub’s lack of customers.
Whilst this pub isn’t in a particularly nice part of town, I thought the welcome I got here was very friendly and that the locals were sad to see their pub in a state of decline. I would probably not return due to the lack of decent beer, but I have to say that of all the ale-less pubs I’ve visited in Croydon, this one stands out as one of the best and I wish them well for the future.

On 13^th March 2011 - rating: 4
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]