Victoria Cross, Croydon

A good example of an inter-war suburban pub, rebuilt in 1937 for an area of dense housing. The site is interestingly shaped where the crank in the road means the pub tapers inwards as it stretches back, making for some unusual spaces. The exterior is a symmetrical composition and has those features so popular with inter-war pub builders – buff tile facing below and half-timbering above. Another favourite – rippled glass in the windows – survives in considerable measure. There has been some opening up so you can now circumnavigate the central serving area. But, nonetheless, there is still a very good impression to be gained of how the pub was laid out originally. On the left there is the lounge and on the right the public bar, although we were told that originally the functions were reversed. Between the two, at the front, was an off-sales compartment, now merged into the public bar. One of its screens still survives and this has a low access door for staff.

In terms of furnishings, the dominant theme is wooden wall panelling to create the olde worlde feel of ‘brewers’ Tudor’. The counter and back fittings are largely original but, sadly, rather ungainly superstructures sit on the counter top and mar the appearance of the pub. Access doors in the counter fronts and original tiling in both toilets on the right-hand side.