September 2025. Carshalton.
Ahead of Thursday’s publication of the most-eagerly awaited Good Beer Guide since GBG25, CAMRA Discourse is again in ferment about Guide entries that aren’t “Proper Pubs”.
“When visiting somewhere different I would like to be guided to a good pint enjoyed in the surroundings of a traditional pub. I am not keen on sitting in a converted shoe shop or an industrial unit with chairs made out of scaffold poles.”
Now, I’m with the Mudg(i)es, give me the Posada or Wheatsheaf over Wolverhampton’s micropubs any day, but really I want variety in the GBG, and the best pub is a busy one;
Carshalton’s Fox & Hounds looks the part but has been closed 8 years.
Next door, the Cryer Arts Centre seems to be doing a great trade, despite a crowd funder on its Facebook and dire warnings about survival.
A happy place, with Bobby Davro (ask yer aunt) starting September before a run of 70s tribute acts take over.
Quality bistro set-up,
quality cask range.
A bit of a showcase for Surrey Hills, and goodness knows they need one with all their local pubs being restaurants.
The Hope was busy, but the Cryer staff (again, coping magnificently under the pressure of a Bobby Davro crowd) were pulling Shere Drop at the rate of 2 a minute.
Cool, crisp and, yes, chewy (NBSS 4).
And as we know, that search for NBSS 4 cask it what it’s really all about*.
*It isn’t
retiredmartin 
Cool, crisp, chewy and served in the brewery’s own glass. Great photo, too
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It’s a classy little theatre bar and worthy GBG entry. I won’t comment on the entertainment.
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♬ So far away from me.
So far, I just can’t see… ♬
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What did you Americans do to have Dire Straits inflicted on you, Steve !
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I like the tagline to Bobby’s poster.
It could equally have said “Everything’s a chair if you can sit in it”, and a thousand other such things.
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Is two pints a minute a prerequisite for watching Bobby?
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Hello RM – you’ve been busy!
It is about the cool chewy 4 score. I can always enjoy a great pint in a mediocre pub. But a poor pint is a poor pint whatever the surrounds. Bliss..? – a 4 in a top 10.
Carshalton eh – who knew?
Dom in Bath
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Hi Dom !
Who knew ? Well, been on quick trips to Carshalton, Sutton, and all over Croydon over the years but completely missed Carshalton’s village charm.
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“but really I want variety in the GBG, and the best pub is a busy one;”
Well, it is the Good BEER Guide, not the Good PUB Guide.
“Carshalton’s Fox & Hounds looks the part but has been closed 8 years.”
Bugger.
“despite a crowd funder on its Facebook and dire warnings about survival.”
That’s just PR hype.
“with Bobby Davro (ask yer aunt) ”
Me Da had none, me Mum had one, and she lived in Nottingham so… nuff said. 😉
“quality cask range.”
All I see is a ladies bottom.
“A bit of a showcase for Surrey Hills”
That’s more like it but, goodness!; they need help with their naming.
“but the Cryer staff (again, coping magnificently under the pressure of a Bobby Davro crowd) were pulling Shere Drop at the rate of 2 a minute.”
Well, it is their flagship beer.
“And as we know, that search for NBSS 4 cask it what it’s really all about*.”
What about new music, places and people?
“*It isn’t”
Ah.
(always check anything with a *)
Cheers
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I knew those asterisks had a purpose.
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Which I will blithely continue to ignore (or at least not peek at what they say until I get there in my own ineffable way).
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