The Old Fox & Hounds, pool in Croydon

Photo: WhatPub / CAMRA

The Old Fox & Hounds: Pool & Snooker in Croydon, London

FreeWalk-inPool tableSports barGroupsLeague pool

1 London Road, West Croydon, Croydon · CR0 2RE · Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-02:00; Su 12:00-22:30

The Old Fox & Hounds is an unfussy old corner local right by West Croydon station, and it is one of the pubs that plays in the Croydon & District Pool League. If you want a casual frame of pool with a pint, this is a proper community boozer rather than a slick games venue. You walk in, there is no booking and no entry fee for a knockabout, and the table sits in among the sports screens and beer garden.

It suits locals, sports watchers and pub-pool players more than a polished date night. Expect Sky and TNT Sports on the screens, cask ale on the bar, live music on Saturdays and hot food if you get peckish. The single most useful thing to know: it is a league pool pub, so on league nights the table may be tied up with fixtures, so come earlier or on a quiet afternoon for a free run of it.

The pool setup

There is a pub pool table here, and the Old Fox & Hounds runs in the Croydon & District Pool League, fielding a team in the local fixtures. That tells you the table gets real use and the regulars know their way around a frame. It is standard pub pool rather than a dedicated hall, so expect a single table sharing the room with the bar and sports screens. On league nights the table will likely be booked for fixtures, so if you just want a casual game, aim for a quieter afternoon or early evening instead.

Good to know

This is a walk-in local, so no booking and no door charge. You pay for your drinks and feed the table for a game. There is cask ale on the bar, usually Greene King IPA and Old Speckled Hen, plus Sky and TNT Sports across the screens for the football and the boxing. There is a beer garden out the back and hot food if you want to make a session of it, with live music on Saturdays. It is an old corner pub with original public and saloon bar layout still visible.

Getting there

It could not be handier for transport. The pub sits at 1 London Road, right on the corner by West Croydon station, which serves Overground, Southern rail and tram, with bus routes stopping just outside. That makes it an easy meet-up spot if your group is coming in from different parts of south London. The exterior has barely changed since the mid-19th century, so it is the obvious landmark pub as you come out of the station.

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Common questions

What is The Old Fox & Hounds?
It is a traditional corner local pub at 1 London Road, right by West Croydon station. It has a pub pool table and fields teams in the Croydon & District Pool League, alongside cask ale, sports screens, a beer garden and hot food.
Is it free to play pool at The Old Fox & Hounds?
There is no booking and no entry charge to come in. You pay for your drinks, and pub pool tables are usually coin-operated per game, so expect a small charge to rack up.
Do I need to book or can I just walk in?
It is a walk-in local pub, so you just turn up. Be aware that on Croydon & District Pool League nights the table may be tied up with fixtures, so a quieter afternoon is your best bet for a casual game.
How many pool tables does it have?
It is a standard pub pool setup with a table in the main room rather than a dedicated pool hall. Sources confirm a pool table and active league participation, but not a multi-table room.
What are the opening hours?
Listings show roughly 11:00 to 23:00 Monday to Thursday, 11:00 to 02:00 Friday and Saturday, and 12:00 to 22:30 on Sunday. Hours can change, so check before a late visit.
What is the nearest station?
West Croydon station is right next to the pub, served by London Overground, Southern rail and Tramlink, with bus stops directly outside.

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