Oval Tavern
1 Oval Road, Croydon. CR0 6BR
Our current venue, playing from 9pm
every Monday night since September 2016
Monday nights at The Oval Tavern in Croydon come alive with the rousing sounds of The Big Beer Band, a 17-piece jazz ensemble. It’s a local tradition that blends big band energy with pub coziness, creating a truly unique start to the week.
Big Beer Band Venue History
A visual timeline of Croydon’s jazz-infused pub circuit, tracing The Big Beer Band’s journey from iconic venues like The Oval Tavern (2016–present) to lost landmarks including The Lord Napier, The Gun, and others repurposed or closed between 2008 and 2017. Sorted from newest to oldest.
The Grape & Grain
13/14 Norfolk House
Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR0 1LH
Played here from 2015 until the pub closed in November 2017.
it was closd because of a purchase by Wetherspoons who have yet to do anything with it. Although they stated on 18th March 2025 that this will be redeveloped into one of their pubs in due course.
The Old Brief
48-50 George Street
Croydon
CR0 1PB
Played here from 2007 till 2010
Pub closed in 2011 after a brief (no pun intended) management take over and then coverted to a Pizza Express a couple of months later.
The Eagle
52 Tamworth Road
Croydon
CR0 1XW
Played here from 2009 until it’s closure in 2010.
After closure, the site was repurposed for community use and became home to the Lighthouse Educational Trust, following a successful planning application in March 2011.
PALS
13/14 Norfolk House
Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR0 1LH
Played here from 2008 until 2009.
Another casualty of the town centre’s redevelopment.
Now a Wlliam Hills betting shop.
The Green Dragon
58-60 High Street
Croydon
CR0 1NA
Played here from 2008 until 2009.
It was always a bit of a squeeze uptstairs to acccomodate the BBB, but it still provides live music for smaller ensembles. Rarely Jazz though.
The Greyhound
313-315 Kirkdale
London
SE26 4QB
Played here for a few months in early 2000s
Now a gastropub thats still provides live music, but not Jazz unfortunately.
WALKABOUT
12-18 Crown Hill
Croydon
CR0 1RZ
Played here for around a month
Probably the biggest venue we have played in.
It was more of a nightclub than a live music venue, so would seldom get clientele on Monday evenings.
This bar closed in 2009 as part of Regent Inns going into pre-pack administration. Vacant until opened as a 99p Store in 2012 (now Poundland)
The Lord Napier
111 Beulah Road
Thornton Heath
CR7 8JG
Played here for a few months in early 2000s
Closing in 2017, The Lord Napier was a well-known local pub with a strong musical tradition, especially in jazz and live performance, dating back to the 1960s and 1970s.
Bar Monaco
12 High Street
Croydon
CR0 1YA
Played here from 2002 till 2004
A downstairs bar where we would often get a regular crowd. Unfortunately, the pub closed in 2005 and was converted into an amusement arcade. (hence the photo)
Gun Tavern
83 Church Street
Croydon
CR0 1RN
Played here from 1989 till 2002
Our first residency that lasted many years.
But after selling their car park for residential housing, the new locals started complaining about the noise.
The pub closed in 2012 and reopened as a diner-style restaurant.