JASON HINTON visits an old pub in Addiscombe that has been given a new lease of liveliness
I’d long believed that what was once the Cricketers pub on Addiscombe Road, just round the corner from where I live, could be so much more than the quiet, dark and rather sombre establishment that I had occasionally.
The beef brisket – without bun for gluten-free option – melts in the mouth
Then it closed. But over the course of the past few months, it has been transformed into Miss P’s Barbecue, somewhere that is lively, bright and far from sombre.
After briefly meeting Miss P and her partner on a hot summer afternoon when they were in the midst of transforming the pub into an Atlanta-style barbecue restaurant, and seeing their enthusiasm for their concept and venture, I was eager to try the food they had to offer.
A few weeks after opening my wife and I enjoyed a lazy Sunday afternoon lunch at Miss P’s. My first impressions of the restaurant were that considerable effort had gone into the refurb. The decor is a contemporary wood-stained theme, consistent with a barbecue. The tables are canteen style, with cushions available for comfort, if required.
The clientele represented a mix of people, including families, a younger crowd, professionals and locals. The staff were welcoming and friendly. There’s a well-stocked bar, and I was immediately drawn to the cocktail menu – £7 each (or two for one during happy hour). I started with a rum-based “Dark and Stormy”, followed swiftly by a whisky chasing “Boulevardier”. Very nice.
As I am a coeliac requiring a gluten-free diet, I found that the staff were knowledgeable and helpful about what I could eat.
I went for the beef brisket (£9.50), with a side of fries. The gluten-free option means going without a bun. My wife went for the smoked fried chicken – beer-battered and deep-fried and 100 per cent contraining gluten, unfortunately for me.
The food was served promptly and service was polite and courteous. The meat portion was generous.
The portions of fried chicken in Miss P’s are generous
It was well-presented, and looked tender, but did not really give any clue as to just how delicious the beef was. If you enjoy meat, I highly recommend the brisket – it literally melts in your mouth!
What if anything could Miss P’s do better? I’d raise a glass to extending the happy hour, and free wi-fi is always a welcome development. Finally, on a cold day, make sure the front door is shut!
Overall, my impression was that this is a family friendly local restaurant, serving delicious food, run by a great young couple – with the potential to become a real community asset and very worthy of support.
Best of all it’s just round the corner and we’ve returned several times with a few of our neighbours. Cheers!
- Miss P’s Barbecue is at 107 Addiscombe Rd, Croydon CR0 6SG, not far from the Lebanon Road tram stop. Click here to visit their website
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