Market Tavern (Croydon), pool in Croydon (CR0)

Photo: CAMRA WhatPub / Croydon & Sutton CAMRA

Market Tavern (Croydon): Pool & Snooker in London

Free poolWalk-inPool tableSports pubGroups

Surrey House, 1-4 Surrey Street, Croydon · CR0 1RG · Mo-Th 10:00-23:30; Fr-Sa 10:00-00:00; Su 10:00-23:30

The Market Tavern is a no-frills community sports pub at the top of Croydon's Surrey Street market, and it is the home pub of the Croydon & District Pool League. The single most useful thing to know is the pool: there is one full-sized table on the floor, free to play, sat among the screens. It suits you if you want cheap pints, live football and a casual frame without booking anything. Expect a busy, local crowd on match nights and weekends, plenty of HD screens plus a projector for the big games, and proper boozer prices rather than anything polished. Just turn up, get your name down for the table and play. Worth a quick call before a special trip, since the pub's trading status has wobbled recently.

The pool setup

There is one full-sized pool table on the main floor, not tucked away in a back room. It runs walk-in: put a coin down or get your name on the chalk and wait your turn, the usual winner-stays-on rhythm on a busy night. As the home venue of the Croydon & District Pool League, the standard can be sharp when teams are in, so expect competition rather than a quiet practice table. Off-league nights it is more relaxed and easy to grab a frame. The table sits in among the sport screens, so you are playing with football on in the background.

Good to know

This is a value-led Craft Union pub, so pints are cheap and there is no table booking system, you just play when it is free. The operator lists the pool as free to play. It opens late, from 10:00 most days through to 23:30, and to midnight on Friday and Saturday, which gives you a long window for evening frames. Several HD screens plus a big projector cover Sky Sports and the major fixtures, so it fills up on match days. Food is pub-standard rather than a draw. One caveat: a CAMRA listing flagged a closure in late 2025, so ring ahead before a dedicated trip.

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Common questions

What is the Market Tavern in Croydon?
It is a community sports pub at the top of Surrey Street market in central Croydon, CR0 1RG. It shows live sport on HD screens and a projector, and it is the home pub of the Croydon & District Pool League.
Is pool free at the Market Tavern?
The operator lists the pool table as free to play, and there is no posted table charge. If that has changed it would be a small coin-op fee, so check on arrival.
Do you need to book a pool table?
No. There is no booking system. You walk in and get your name down for the table, then play when it is free, usually winner-stays-on when it is busy.
How many pool tables does it have?
One full-sized pool table, on the main floor among the sport screens.
What are the opening hours?
Roughly 10:00 to 23:30 most days, with later closing to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Hours can vary, so confirm before a late visit.
What is the nearest station?
It sits in central Croydon by Surrey Street market, a short walk from East Croydon and West Croydon stations and close to the tram stops.

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