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Detail Pages
Hallmark Hotel Croydon, Waddon, Croydon
Croydon
CR9 4LT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 1 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Hallmark Hotel Croydon
Opening in 1928, the Croydon Aerodrome Hotel was the first airport hotel in the world, serving the adjacent Croydon airport, which was the UK's principal airport at the time. The airport's importance meant that all sorts of history was made here - Amy Johnson set off from here on her solo flight to Australia, Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St Louis here shortly after his successful Atlantic crossing, Winston Churchill took flying lessons here and all manner of famous folk - Charlie Chaplin, John F Kennedy, Babe Ruth, Rita Hayworth - passed through. Plenty then for Hallmark, the current owners of this fascinating building, to make use of in their public bar. But alas, somehow all this fascinating history has been completely glossed over, in favour of a soulless hotel bar that is so drab and unappealing I was tempted to take my pint out to the car park so I could watch the traffic thunder down the Purley Way instead.
Unusually for a hotel, you enter directly to the bar, with the servery opposite the entrance, which itself is flanked by shelves stacked with wine bottles. The reception desk meanwhile, is lost somewhere over to the far left - perhaps you need a stiff drink before you resign yourself to checking in here. The bar area is bare boarded with a modern dark wood counter on the rear wall. Opposite is a raised dining area offering marvellous views of the dual carriageway outside, whilst over to the left is a carpeted space with randomly scattered sofas and tub chairs. The walls have been painted in contrasting shades of light and dark with virtually nothing on show to distract the eye or add a bit of character/sense of history - just a few wine bottles here and there and some vases full of twigs. A TV screen near the reception desk was showing muted live football, with a bloke behind me providing an alternative to the commentary by watching a TV show on his tablet with the volume turned up. Dreary music droned away in the background and this was augmented by the infinitely preferable sound of a broken air con unit.
The staff looked bored and tried to liven things up a bit by randomly approaching me and asking what room number I was in. I don't think they could believe it when I told them I was visiting out of my own free will. No cask ales, obviously, so I had a pint of soupy Boddingtons, which was as awful as you're imagining.
It's difficult to know where to start with summing up something quite so terrible as this. The frustrating thing for me is that with a bit of effort, this could be a pleasant and interesting place to visit (I'd highly recommend a look around the neighbouring Airport Visitors Centre on one of their open days), but absolutely no thought has gone into this place at all. I've only got half a dozen pubs left to visit in the borough before I've visited them all and frankly, I'll be glad when I've completed this ridiculous quest, as places like this are enough to put you off pub-going for life.
On 8th July 2016
- rating: 1
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about Hallmark Hotel Croydon
For nearly four decades Croydon Airport was the UK's main civil airport, connecting Britain with the Empire in its twilight years. Just a few bits of it remain today, a couple of distinguished Art Deco buildings all but submerged by the hideous strip-malls and warehouses that comprise the 21st century Purley Way. The terminal building, Airport House, maintains a visitor centre and makes an interesting look round. You'd think that the Aerodrome Hotel next door would have been treated with similar respect. After all countless historical figures, from kings to prime ministers to Hollywood film stars passed through over the years. When Hallmark Hotels announced they were going to spend £2 million on it you'd have thought they were going to restore to its former glory. You'd be wrong. All that's left is a standard business hotel that could be on any bypass anywhere in the country.
Going in through the front door the bar is the first bit you get to; oddly the reception is round the corner. to the left. A section to the right is cordoned off for dining. It's standard hotel lounge with nothing to distinguish it at all. It was all but deserted when I stopped by early one Saturday evening. The subdued lighting (you can't see to read) accentuates the feeling of gloom. It goes without saying that there's no real ale.
Those with a sense of history will be tempted to call in. It's a temptation that should be resisted.
On 25th January 2013
- rating: 1
[User has posted 570 recommendations about 562 pubs]