Over the recent years, we have loved and lost many Wetherspoon pubs in Croydon.
Wetherspoon has long been a popular location for people in Croydon to enjoy a meal with friends and families, or as a post-work outing.
But unfortunately, for various reasons, we’ve had to say goodbye to a number of them in recent years.
In 2019, there were eight Wetherspoon pubs in Croydon, but since then, a total of five have closed down.
These are the Wetherspoon pubs we have lost in Croydon.
Milan Bar, formerly of 14-32 High Street
Closed: February 14, 2022
The Milan bar occupied part of the ground and basement floors of the Grants Entertainment scheme, which was developed on the site of the former Grant's department store, which opened in 2002.
It was reported in February last year that Wetherspoon had found a buyer for the pub, but the unit has remained empty.
The pub is listed as available to rent on commercial property website cbre.co.uk
Skylark, formerly of 34-36 South End
The Skylark in South Croydon closed in March 2022 despite a petition of more than 1,000 calling on operator JD Wetherspoon to reconsider.
The property is still up for sale with Savills for offers in excess of £1.4million.
The property, on South End, is a two-storey end of terrace building. The listing reads: “The ground floor comprises an open plan trading area with bar servery to the left of the main entrance with seating on loose tables and chairs and fixed booth seating.
"Ancillary areas include a disabled toilet, staff changing, office and beer cellar with a good lift that services the first and basement levels.
“The first floor is accessed by a staircase to the rear of the property and comprises a secondary bar servery, ladies and gentlemen’s toilets and a commercial kitchen with dumb waiter to the ground floor.
"There is a separate access from behind the bar at ground floor.”
There is also a basement with a beer cellar as well as a beer garden at the pub which is nearly 9,000 square metres.
It is offered as a freehold property and currently has a licence to sell alcohol between 9am and midnight Monday to Thursday and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
When the pub closed, David Lands from the Sutton and Croydon Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said: “I think it’s a huge loss for the area. We’ve lost so many traditional pubs along the Brighton Road.
"Going down from the flyover you’ll be left with possibly two pubs on that main road before you get into Purley itself.
"The Skylark was always popular so I can’t believe it wasn’t turning over enough money.”
Postal Order, formerly of 31-33 Westow Street, Upper Norwood
Closed: March 16, 2021
Postal Order got its name from the fact that, prior to it being converted into a pub, the building was the Upper Norwood sorting office (with the Post Office next door to it on the right) and later a second-hand shop.
It still sits empty today.
Foxley Hatch, formerly of 8-9 Russell Hill Road, Purley
After closing at the end of last year, the lease for Foxley Hatch is still listed with Savills, wit ha rent of £46,500 a year.
The listing says: "The Foxley Hatch occupies a prominent position to the north of the interchange between the A22 and A23 with Purley station 300 metres to the south east.
"The surrounding area is predominatly commercial with nearby occupiers including Domino’s, Pizza Express, and 4 Locos Argentine Steakhouse.
"The Foxley Hatch comprises the ground and first floors of a three storey terraced building under a pitched roof.
"To the rear is a small service yard and to the front elevation is a small beer terrace providing seating for approximately 16 customers."
The Flora Sandes, formerly of 1 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath
Closed: May 28, 2018
The Flora Sandes was named after the only British woman to serve as a combat soldier in the First World War and lived in Thornton Heath.
A petition to save the pub attracted over 3,000 signatures but there was never any ‘formal acknowledgement’ of the campaign by J D Wetherspoon.
It is now Energie Fitness.
The remaining Wetherspoon pubs are The George on 17-21 George Street, The Moon Under Water on London Road, and The Sir Julian Huxley on 152-154 Addington Road.
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