Randomness Guide to London Menu

Young's pub in Croydon, in the Good Beer Guide. 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. Another area to the right of the bar photo has tables and chairs as well as banquette seating. There's another small alcove-like room at the back photo, and a bookable function room upstairs. The walls are half-panelled, and the floorboards are bare. There's a large beer garden out the back with its own bar, BBQ station, and L-shaped booths photo.

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.

They usually have three real ales on: Young's Bitter (£3.50/pint in June 2015), Young's Special (£3.65/pint in June 2015), and one other (those we've seen include Young's Waggle Dance, Young's Winter Warmer, Truman's Lazarus, and Young's Wooden Spoon charity ale).

On Kake's July 2011 visit, there were three or four people in at 3pm on a Monday. On another visit in February 2012, 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. On a weekday evening in January 2013, the pub was almost empty.

According to their website as of October 2015, food is served noon-2:30pm and 6pm-8pm Mon-Thu, noon-9pm Fri, noon-8pm Sat, and noon-5pm Sun. They do pizzas photo of menu in Oct 2015 as well as BBQ items photo of menu in Oct 2015 and Sunday roasts photo of menu in Oct 2013.

On a June 2015 visit bob and Martin had the pulled pork bun (£6.25) photo, the smoked beef brisket bun (£6.50) photo, and two portions of "rustic fries" (£3) photo. The BBQ meat was very good, and the brisket was the best of them. In October 2015, Kake's vegetarian pizza (£8.50 for 9") photo was fine if not overly exciting.

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

Kake's verdict: Previously quite traditional (in a real way, not a fake way), refurbishments over the years have brought it a little more upmarket, but it's not overly gentrified and still one of my favourite pubs in London.

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:

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