The Crown

You'll find The Crown nestled on Wickham Road in the quieter reaches of Croydon, where it's become the kind of place regulars actually return to. It's got that reliable, unpretentious pub energy—the sort of spot where you can rock up for a midweek pint without any fuss, or settle in for a proper meal with mates. The Ember Inns chain might seem bog-standard on paper, but this particular boozer punches above its weight with a solid drinks selection and food that doesn't feel like it's been microwaved from a freezer. With nearly 1,900 reviews under its belt and a 4.2-star rating, it's clearly doing something right for the Shirley crowd.