Builders' Arms, Croydon  

The Builders' Arms is alright, in fact it's better than that, but somehow, something didn't quite gel for us. It was a pleasant place to be, there's good drink, and the food looked like it might be OK too. There's a small public bar, a much larger saloon bar, lit by a skylight, a separate dining area and a decent beer garden. As well as a weekly pub quiz, there's the possibility of joining in, presumably at any time, what was described as an 'interactive entertainment network' free of charge, using a hand-held device to answer questions displayed on a screen. So what's wrong? It's just too clean, too polished, too... not exactly respectable, more like too plain. No blue skies, baby (gratuitous but apt Lloyd Cole reference). As it stands, this is a serviceable and competent pub that lacks a certain indefinable something that would make it a really enjoyable place to spend time.

reviewed:
19/03/2005

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)

real ales

beer garden

quiz night Tuesday

separate dining area

board games

Link to your pub's web site