News
Here is the latest news from our branch area (and sometimes from further afield!).
- Message from the Smugglers' Inn, Coulsdon
Wednesday 17 April 2024
We’re a surviving traditional pub (when so many are closing down) and we're big on Real Ale. We are currently featuring brews from Surrey Hills Brewery at Denbies Estate, plus a variety of others from independent breweries across the area, all the way down to Somerset. We have darts teams, quiz nights, and live music. We do this with good old fashioned service and all at fair prices.
- (PUB)lic House - Turf Projects
Monday 15 April 2024
A film by Phoebe and Roger Wagner. https://vimeo.com/925880528
Pubs across Croydon have been boarded up, abandoned and left to be empty. Phoebe remembers growing up in them. Roger (her Dad) (CAMRA member and member of the 'Save the Glamorgan' campaign) remembers playing music in them since the early 90s. Together they go on a pub crawl across Croydon asking 3 questions: “What happened in these pubs, what are they now and what could they become?”
The film was compiled through interviews and workshops, see their exploration of the music, stories and sounds that populate(d) these pubs.
This film premiered at a screening and manifesto workshop. With beer and chats after, we created a manifesto zine to establish our hopes for our local to hold the council accountable. This will be sent to council members, landlords and key influencers in the legacy of these buildings, with hopes to make them (pub)lic houses again.
‘(Pub)lic House’ was one of the artist projects within Turf Projects’ latest commission series Desire Paths, as part of This Is Croydon, London Borough of Culture 2023.
- Foxley Hatch, Purley
Tuesday 23 January 2024
The Foxley Hatch, Purley, which was recently sold by Wetherspoons, has now reopened under the management of the Red House pub group. 3 cask ales are available. London Pride, Old Speckled Hen and a Pilgrim beer were noted on a recent visit. It is good to see one of the former Wetherspoons outlets continuing as a pub.
- Regional Pub of the Year presentation to the Hope
Sunday 24 December 2023
Congratulations to the Hope, Carshalton for winning the London regional pub of the year. London Regional Director Ellie Eames presented the certificate to Mark Cotton and Nick Williams of the Hope.
- Croydon borough Pub of the Year presentation - Claret & Ale
Saturday 23 December 2023
Congratulations to the Claret & Ale, Addiscombe, winner of the 2023 Croydon Borough Pub of the Year. On 7 June Dave Lands, branch chair (left) presented the certificate to Dave Jones and Matt Whelan (managers).
- Sutton borough Pub of the Year presentation - Hope, Carshalton
Saturday 23 December 2023
Congratulations to the Hope, Carshalton, for winning the Sutton Borough Pub of the Year. On 29 June, Dave Lands presented the certificate to Rodger Molyneux, licensee.
- Fires at the Windmill and the Drum & Monkey
Saturday 2 December 2023
In the early hours of Thursday 31 August, fire damaged both the Windmill, St James Road, and the Drum & Monkey, Gloucester Road. Both were closed pubs, the Windmill having closed in 2022 and the Drum & Monkey in 2016.
No planning permission had been granted for either pub. Can we all be vigilant and should there be signs of illegal demolition, please report a.s.a.p. to The Council Planning Enforcement team - email ku.vog.nodyorc@tnemecrofnEgninnalP
- A brief history of Croydon breweries
Thursday 23 November 2023
Please go to the Breweries page for a short history of 19th century Croydon breweries, from the South East London Pub Guide 3rd Edition 1988