please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Not All Bar One, instead now part of the Slug and Lettuce chain. Modern, swish, pleasant surroundings with plenty of natural light. Bar staff are second rate, more like the sort you would expect in a down market chain like the Goose. So don't be surprised if they have an attitude. Decent selection of draft lagers including Hoegarrden. On a Saturday night they have a D.J. Expensive, don't expect to pay under £3.50 per pint. Customers seem well behaved.
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I cant stand this place!! went for a friends 25th birthday at his request. Its full of prettyboy executives in their business suits walking around thinking they are Donald Trump. Wayyy overpriced drinks. Rude bar staff. This is simply one of the few places in Croydon people go to to "be seen" so consequently the clientele and staff including the door staff are typically snobby.
The food was fairly decent to be honest and drinks were not bad but either but still overpriced.
Avoid! unless your one of these socialites who hangs around these types of "trendy" places then you'll love it.
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The previous commentator has rather stolen my thunder as he has covered all the relevant points that should be borne in mind about this establishment and the thousands of its kind across the nation. Bland, over-priced, and formulaic, one really could be anywhere once inside (perhaps this is considered a plus for folk who'd rather forget they were in Croydon but usually this is not a positive trait). Yet, it is surprisingly well-subscribed by people who presumably prefer a safe and characterless environment for their eating and drinking.
No real ale of course; the Pride is keg only and as one of the previous visitors noted is only there as a token gesture. The draught lager selection at least isn't confined to the ubiquitous ersatz British brands, and sometimes a more interesting and dare I say it flavoursome imported offering appears. But this is of little interest to an ale man. The saving grace is perhaps the fridge, as it does contain a couple of passable bottled ales - namely Innis & Gunn and Worthington White Shield, thanks to which I have been able to endure if not enjoy the various leaving dos that silly colleagues insist on holding at this venue!
I should also say the food isn't too bad, and the wine selection while not unusual is quite diverse. But neither represent value for money and the sterile environment makes for a pretty anodine experience whatever is in your glass.
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I can't stand this type of fancy wine bar, but the frequency with which I seem to bump into them all over the country suggests that there is clearly a large number of people who love this sort of bland drinking experience.
Basically stripped of anything that makes a pub interesting and with the music turned to a level which rules out any form of conversation, the only appeal for me is from the decent beer selection, which covers some well-known and slightly more obscure European lagers. Unfortunately they attact a hyper-inflated price tag, and as such the bar tends to be filled with preening executive types arguing about who has the biggest wad.
Best avoided unless you're the kind of person who likes this sort of night out, in which case, you probably don't need this website to tell you where to drink.
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Let's be honest, this is not a pub, it's a bar. Don't expect the London Pride to be good because they only put it there to keep the non lager drinkers happy, they have no idea how to keep it and it's frozen to death.
That said, they do a good range of continental lagers and wines, the food is as good as you should reasonably expect from such a place, the prices keep the worst of Croydon's chavs out. That said, I had my wallet nicked while in here about 18 months ago!
The staff are friendly, attentive and work very hard at busy times and as Croydon bars go, this is one of the better ones.
The biggest down side is the noise. It really is very loud so be prepared for an evening of shouting.
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Same as any other AB1 in the country, although this is not generally a bad thing.
Service is good and very busy after work but not really a weekend place as its too far from the high street and doesnt fit in with the other bars in Croydon as they all have DJ's & late hours etc.
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call me boring and middle aged (34) but I like the fact that they have an over 21s policy which saw a party with a buggy turned away last Saturday lunchtime. I would not go in a Wacky Warehouse so don't bring a buggy to a wine bar, I want to enjoy my lunch in a grown up environment! I am more a wine than a beer person and if I were into real ale I would probably drink somewhere else but it caters for what *I* enjoy, each to their own. Some of the staff do need a rocket up their ass but some of them are top notch, we usually get looked after by the same waitress every Saturday and she is always on the ball and it seems important to her that customers really enjoy their drinks and food. However I would not drink here on a Friday evening "early doors" as it does get crowded with office workers going for a sneaky one.
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Boring - for middle-aged people
anonymous - 18 Nov 2007 17:44 |
very clean & pleasant staff can only ASSUME ITS LOW RATING IS DUE THE PRICE, BIT TO HIGH FOR MOST CROYDON CHAVS
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I agree with the previous comments. I tried a London Pride and it tasted completely different to the Fullers pub round the corner. We tried something from the menu, and I can't say that helped. Steak Baguette was medium when i asked for rare, the merest suggestion of mustard, and a big pile of rocket leaves. Needless to say we won't be going back
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Went in here on friday night - the pub is done out well on the inside. Decent crowd without much riff raff. But the beer is terrible. I had 2 pints, and both were foul. There are too many varieties of beer on tap, and they are obviously not kept well or the pipes cleaned - who knows how long the paulaner or St Pauli kegs have been open - not good. If thats the state of the beer, I wouldnt like to see the kitchen!
foles - 19 Aug 2007 09:58 |
Not a 'real' pub, but not too bad for a leisurely afternoon session, looking out at the world passing by. One drawback was the lone surly barman, with a large chip on both shoulders. He obviously felt that he was destined for greater things, and that the five customers in the bar were a major inconvenience.
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Your typical "All Bar One" all the same!!!
anonymous - 5 Feb 2007 10:07 |
Always full of marketing wide boys from Nestle next door.
Service is often pretty scary - Haley comet is more likely to appear before your food order..
And I'm not too chuffed about �4.75 for a glass of wine when I can go to the George round the corner and get something similar for �2.50!
Soulless in the extreme. Only went because I was in a group otherwise I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole!
anonymous - 10 Jan 2006 04:24 |
If you've been in one All Bar One you've been in them all. Competent but soulless boozer. One for the ladies really.
Boozywoozy - 3 Sep 2004 12:47 |
gotta say i normally go into london to avoid the croydon riff raff, but All Bar One have managed to keep it out and the service is spot on for a croydon bar frequented most lunchtimes and after work, and spot on for a night out with my missus.
sean - 19 Mar 2004 16:51 |
Typical YPV (young peoples venue) in Croydon attracting the late teens and early 20's. There are pubs in croydon like the Royal standard which I recommend because it is 1000 times better than the all bar one here.
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fantastic food
great service
no low lives
a breath of fresh air in croydon
ignore the other comments they must like the seedier bars in croydon
hayden white - 19 Feb 2004 15:59 |
this is a bizzar bar.
the opening hours are totaly non eveing and are all during the day .. I wonder if this bars life is to serve the nextdoor nestle buildings drones for lunch time drinks the place is cold and unwelcoming and the staff can bearly count out the right change without the aid of the tills.
This pub is to be avoided if your looking for a decent drink either .. I suggest you pop next door to bar med which is a MILLION times better
paul - 17 Oct 2003 11:22 |
Terrible location, over-priced, no atmosphere, OK food, under staffed and rude management! Located on corner of Park Lane & Park St.
John Kilminter - 12 Oct 2003 12:07 |
