The Oval Tavern

It's as much about the entertainment as it is the food and booze at this popular Croydon pub. There's something going on every night, from blues jams, acoustic sessions and DJs to darts on a Monday night and Aunty Wendy's pub quiz on a Wednesday. There's even a Saturday afternoon storytime - for the kids, we presume.

The food here is pretty accessible - think bar snacks of homemade Scotch eggs and sausage rolls, grilled mac and cheese, tuna melts, mushroom rarebit and a club sandwich, here including chorizo. The beer garden plays host to couple of barbecues that prove a bit of a draw on sunny summer days.

As do the real ales - expect five on the pump as well as more by the bottle.