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Image posted by Rex Rattus
Submitted on Saturday, 22nd July 2017
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Detail Pages
Albert Tavern, South Norwood, SE25
SE25
SE25 4LX
Reviews of Albert Tavern (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Albert Tavern
It sounds as if this pub has improved a bit since Pubsignman's visit a few years ago. Also, of course, Binnie Walsh has sadly passed on. Anyway, it's stil a Greene King pub, but on my midweek visit they had on IPA (of course), plus GK's summer hoppy beer called Amplified, as well as a guest in the shape of Wimbledon Brewery Summer Ale (£1.75 a half). The usual illustrated menus were on all the tables, including the usual pub grub meal deals.
This pub has been given the aggressive sort of makeover that so often happens when GK get their hands on a pub. There's gastro grey everywhere, brightly coloured banquettes, mostly modern bare-boarded flooring, and with some booths alongside the windows on the left. The pub dates from the mid 60s, built to replace a pub bombed during WWII. The one thing GK have done is revert the pub to its original name, having had several silly names over the years. There's a bit of outside outside at the front, as well as a very small garden to the side.
I have to say that this isn't the sort of pub that rocks my boat, but it's still here and trading, which is good going for any backstreet pub these days. But it was reasonably comfortable inside, and my Wimbledon Summer Ale was in good shape, and a welcome guest for a GK pub.
On 22nd July 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Albert Tavern
Formerly a three story, street corner pub, the Albert Tavern now assumes the guise of a single story 1960's estate pub, thanks to the efforts of the German Bombers in WWII who destroyed the original building. The pub often gets a mention from modern day beer enthusiasts thanks to the fact that this is the pub where Binnie Walsh, now of The Harp (Covent Garden), started her career.
It's a Greene King house, so beer was limited to IPA and Abbot Ale (£3.00) with one other pump clip turned and a fourth pump not in use. My Abbot was a bit lifeless and I imagine there isn't enough demand to ensure the beer remains in top condition (although the IPA seemed to be flying out of the pump).
The interior is essentially one large Z shaped room, although some chunky pillars create a form of partitioning in places. The room is carpeted and it appears that Greene King have done some work in here fairly recently as the place seemed quite fresh and clean. Furniture is fairly standard although there are a few sofas and some high tables/stools here and there. Several TV screens were showing test cricket (with the radio playing over the commentary) to a disinterested handful of punters and I also spotted a Juke box, several slot machines, a pool table and what looked like giant Connect 4. Sport is heavily promoted and I'd imagine that would be a big draw for their customer base.
Despite its interesting past, there's not a lot to say for the pub in its present incarnation. I thought the place was pretty decent compared to other estate pubs in and around Croydon, but it seems a bit bland and there was nothing that stood out and made me feel like I'd want to return. You can certainly do a lot worse in these parts, but it's by no means worth travelling out of your way for.
On 27th June 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]
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- Official site of Albert Tavern - www.alberttavernsouthnorwood.co.uk
- Randomness Guide to London - Albert Tavern entry
- Facebook - The Albert Tavern
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Albert Tavern - whatpub.com
Birkbeck, 0.82 miles, 15 min walk (show)
Elmers End, 1.03 miles, 19 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 11 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 11 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 11 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- CAMRA Discount : Yes - 10% - last updated 03 December 2017 by Komakino .
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 03 December 2017 by Komakino .
- Function Room : No last updated 03 December 2017 by Komakino .
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 11 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : Yes last updated 17 July 2015 by Dave McNally
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 11 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Pinball : No last updated 11 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 11 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 03 December 2017 by Komakino .
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 31 July 2022 by Rex Rattus
- Real Cider : No last updated 11 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 03 December 2017 by Komakino .
- WiFi : Yes last updated 03 December 2017 by Komakino .