Randomness Guide to London Menu

Young's pub on Surrey Street in Croydon, in the Good Beer Guide.

It's very traditional (in a real way, not in a fake way), and has a large beer garden out the back. It's situated right on Surrey Street Market, and during the day the market traders' shouts of "pound a bowl" can be heard from inside the pub.

The main bar area at the front has standing room and bar stools both at the bar and at high tables by the front window. The floorboards here are bare, while another area to the right of the bar has large patterned rugs on the floor and a leather chair in the corner. There's another small alcove-like room at the back, and a bookable function room upstairs. Tables and chairs are dark wood, and the walls are half-panelled.

The windows all along the front of the pub have ornate stained-glass insets photo depicting the heads of a ram, a horse, a dog, and a bull. The ram must be a reference to Young's, while the dog and bull are obviously references to the name of the pub; the horse may signify the dray horses that were once used to deliver beer.

On Kake's July 2011 visit, the real ales available were Young's Bitter, Young's Special, and Waggle Dance (£1.65/half). There were three or four people in at 3pm on a Monday. On another visit in February 2012, the ales included Winter Warmer (£3.45/pint), and the place was quite full at a little before 6pm, with drinkers lining the bar and only one or two free tables. No music was playing on either of these visits, though there is a jukebox which is sometimes in action.

According to the 2011 Good Beer Guide, food is available until 9pm (6pm on Sundays).

Signs spotted in July 2011 advertised a quiz night every Tuesday from 8pm, and a function room with wifi and plasma screen.

Accessibility: A step to get in, and the doorway is quite narrow. The men's loo is on the ground floor, but the ladies' is up a narrow, curving staircase.

See also:

• Fancyapint review
• Pubs Galore comments
• Beer in the Evening comments