Once the heart of their communities, these pubs now live on only in the memories of locals.
Across the UK, over 400 pubs closed last year, with London experiencing the highest number of closures.
Of the 412 nationwide, 55 were in the capital.
Despite this, London still boasts 3,470 pubs, keeping its rich pub culture alive.
A new book, London’s Lost Pubs by Sam Cullen (£20, Pen and Sword), delves into the stories of over 200 pubs that have vanished in recent decades.
Drawing from online reviews and pub guides dating back to the 1920s, Cullen brings these forgotten establishments back to life.
Cullen, whose favourite lost pubs include the Zeitgeist in Lambeth and Sun and Dove in Camberwell, said: “As much as it’s sad that these pubs don’t exist anymore, I wanted to make sure they are not lost to time by telling their stories, their history, and some of the quirky characters who drank in them.
“Pubs can tell you so much about social and cultural history. The book is a celebration of pubs that existed as a vehicle for looking at aspects of London life.
“My criteria for inclusion was that they closed within the past twenty-five years, and there was an interesting story to tell.”
Lost Pubs by Sam Cullen will be published by Pen and Sword Books on January 31.
Here is a look at some of the most memorable lost pubs from Croydon which feature in the new book.
The Forum – Trinity Square, Whitgift Centre
In the 1960s, Croydon experienced a boom in construction, with offices and businesses popping up everywhere, making it a vibrant town to visit.
One of these businesses was The Forum, a pub situated inside The Whitgift Centre.
This unusual, blocky building—nicknamed a UFO by some—sat in the middle of the open-air shopping centre.
It was a multi-level pub with a fun twist: you reached it by riding a travelator from the lowest level.
In the 1990s, it was renamed The Merchant, but the pub operated under that name for three years before closing down for good.
The Gun – 83 Church Street
The Gun first appeared in the 1880s but truly made its mark in the 1970s and ’80s as a go-to spot for live music.
According to members of a Croydon history Facebook group, legendary acts like David Bowie performed there in his early days—confirmed by The Bowie Bible, which lists a gig on November 18, 1969.
Rick Parfitt of Status Quo was also reportedly seen there.
In the early 2000s, people criticised the pub for its declining quality with some calling it a “tired and depressing place”.
By the early 2010s, The Gun had closed its doors permanently and is now occupied by the Romanian restaurant Mahala.
The Propeller – 449 Purley Way
A name that perfectly matched its history, The Propeller had deep ties to Croydon’s aviation past.
When it opened in 1936 beside Croydon Airport, it quickly became a favourite among RAF personnel stationed there during World War II.
Though the airport shut down in 1959, the pub remained a fixture for decades.
Sadly, an arson attack in 2001 marked the beginning of the end for The Propeller, which never reopened.
It stood abandoned for five years before plans emerged to replace it with housing.
In 2007, The Propeller was demolished.
Swan and Sugar Loaf – Brighton Road
The Swan & Sugar Loaf stood in a late Victorian building for over a century.
Built by Overton’s Brewery on Surrey Street, it replaced an earlier pub of the same name.
It was particularly admired for its snug area, featuring a Jacobean-style fireplace and six seats.
The stained-glass window, which had two swans and a sugar loaf, was another standout feature.
The pub closed in March 2010 after its owners went into administration.
The building was briefly squatted in 2011 before being cleared following the August riots.
Later that year, scaffolding went up for much-needed restoration, with uncertainty over whether it would reopen as a pub or a restaurant.
In the end, it became neither and the pub was reborn as a Tesco Express in 2012.
