The Crown & Sceptre. South London

I went to lunch last Saturday with some volunteers from our local homeless charity. We met in a pub in Central Croydon, South London.

This costs £5.50 in London

 The Crown & Sceptre is a very old pub located on High street Croydon opposite Leon House. The location is very well served by the public transports and not too far from the shopping centre.

Pubs are not my usual hang outs because of the smell of beer that embraces you every time you push the door into one.

I was pleasantly surprised when I entered this one as I didn't get the beers smell. It might be perhaps due to the time it was in the day.

Looking around at the clientele, it was a great mix of whites, Indians and blacks. Most of them, families or groups of friends meeting for lunch. I dread to think of what this place must be like on matches day; there are TV screens everywhere.  Just on the side of the wall where our group sat, there are 3 TV screens in a 5 metres portion of pub.

There is a little lounge like area toward the back of the pub. Maybe I’ll seat there the next time.

The drinks seem to be really cheap here; I ordered a Sauvignon Blanc and had a full glass at £3.50. In central London that would have cost me £5.50 for this not-best-quality-but-drinkable wine…

For food,  I ordered fish & chip and that cost £4.75. At 1.30pm, this was my third function of the day and I didn’t want to spend much so this was pretty great and unthreatening. If it didn’t taste good,  I could leave it without a second thought.

Fish & Chips no peas £ 4.75

The fish & chips actually tasted nice, the fish piece wasn’t the usual giant slobby soaked batter that I usually see in others’ plates. As I looked at my 7 other friends’ food orders, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of food that was coming out of the kitchens.

The menu card had Indian and Chinese dishes available to order and I am told that, the pub has an Indian and a Chinese chef. This is great and guaranties that you would get what you order. It also means that you will not find Indian spices in your Chinese meal. I am also told that the guys in the kitchen are also the owners of the pub which is event better as I am sure that food is the heart of this family pub… they will make sure that you get what you order.

I also used the ladies there and must say, it was clean enough a part from the stained sink. There was no smell and it seems to be cleaned many times during the day. The colours are warm and there is a full length mirror… always a plus for the ladies. Yeah, I am obsessed with loos.

Everyone from my group seems to enjoy the food they were eating and the drinks were flowing as they were cheap.

I had a good time here and will be coming back during the summer for a glass of rosé in the back garden which I didn't have the time to try.

I’d recommend this pub for a family lunch and ladies (not chavs) meeting for an afternoon drink before dinner.

I’d give it two stars plus 1 star for the lovely waitresses; they are the picture of patience… and will visit again.

Crown & Sceptre is located 282 High Street; London; CR0 1NG; 020 8726 0080