Photo: PubsGalore
The Prince George (Thornton Heath): Pool & Snooker in London
The Prince George is a proper local pub at the junction of High Street and Whitehorse Lane in Thornton Heath, and it doubles as a Croydon and District Pool League home pub, so the table sees regular competitive play. It suits you if you want a relaxed, no-frills spot to rack up a few frames, watch the football, and grab a pint without booking ahead. The single most useful thing to know: it is a free-to-enter community boozer with a pool table you can play on casually, not a paid pool hall. Sky and TNT Sports cover the big matches across several screens, and it gets busy when Crystal Palace play at home down the road at Selhurst Park. There is a quiz on Mondays and a friendly, sports-minded crowd most nights.
The pool setup
Pool here is the pub kind, not a dedicated hall. There is a table on the floor, and the pub fields a side in the Croydon and District Pool League, so league nights can tie it up while matches are on. Outside those, it is open for casual frames whenever you fancy one. Expect a standard pub-sized table, the usual chalk-and-cue routine, and a winner-stays-on feel when it is busy. If you are coming specifically to play, it is worth checking with the bar that no fixture is booked, especially midweek evenings when league games tend to land.
Good to know
This is a free-to-enter community pub, so just walk in. You pay for your drinks and whatever the table costs to play. There is no cask ale, but Sky and TNT Sports run across several screens, which makes it a reliable spot for live football. It sits a short walk from Selhurst Park and pulls a mixed home and away crowd on Crystal Palace match days, so it fills up fast then. There is a quiz on Mondays if you want a reason to come down on a quieter night.
Getting there
You will find it at the corner of High Street and Whitehorse Lane, with the old brewery names still set into the brick. Thornton Heath rail station is the closest stop and a short walk away, with regular trains to East Croydon and London Bridge. It is an easy add-on if you are already heading to Selhurst Park for a game, or a low-key local to settle into for the evening.
Common questions
- What is The Prince George in Thornton Heath?
- It is a traditional community pub at 2 High Street, CR7 8LE, on the corner of Whitehorse Lane. It has a pool table and is a Croydon and District Pool League home pub, plus Sky and TNT Sports for live football.
- Is it free to get into The Prince George?
- Yes, it is a free-to-enter pub. You just pay for your drinks and for any coin-op play on the pool table.
- Do I need to book or can I just walk in?
- Walk in. It is a regular pub with no door booking. If you specifically want to play pool, check with the bar that no league fixture is on, especially on weekday evenings.
- How many pool tables are there?
- It has the usual single pub pool table on the floor, used by the pub's Croydon and District Pool League side and open for casual frames otherwise.
- What are the opening hours?
- Roughly Monday to Thursday 13:00 to 23:00, Friday 15:00 to midnight, Saturday noon to 02:00, and Sunday noon to 22:30. Hours can shift around match days, so confirm before a late visit.
- What is the nearest station?
- Thornton Heath rail station is the closest, a short walk away, with trains to East Croydon and London Bridge. The pub is also close to Selhurst Park.
Other pool & snooker bars nearby
- The Pawsons Arms Croydon
- Selhurst Railway Club Selhurst
- Victory Club (South Norwood) South Norwood (SE25)
- White Horse (Selhurst) Selhurst / South Norwood (SE25)
- South Norwood Conservative Club South Norwood (SE25)
- Enmore Club / South Norwood & Woodside Social Club South Norwood