When The Ship of Fools was named Best Bar None this year it's fair to say a fair few eyebrows got raised in quizzical Mr Spock fashion.

It's certainly not a pub that Croydon's regular alcohol-guzzling fraternity would shout out loud about from the rooftops and proclaim better than anywhere else - hell it wouldn't even be in my top 10.

After all, it's a Wetherspoon and once you've been in one of those you have been in them all.

Two weeks ago we featured another of that chains pubs on these pages, The George, and pretty much everything we said then applies here - except Fools is probably a little bigger, has worse lighting (I could barely see) and is devoid of atmosphere.

The only entertainment was the obligatory loud, drunken old Irish guy shouting some incoherent dribble at his mates sat precisely five inches from his face.

There were television screens showing BBC news with subtitles but they were down the other end to where I sat.

Like the George it is a good place to start your drinking with mates on a Saturday night out, especially if you've just arrived at West Croydon station over the road.

The beer is cheap (though my Kronenbourg was not the best I have ever tasted) and all the usual deals on food apply.

There are also a lot of big booths so you can huddle around and relax on comfortable leather seats and make your own entertainment.

The Best Bar None awards are of course more about security and responsible drinking than they are the quality of the pub and that should be championed - but I'm still scratching my head as to how this place won.

DECOR: ** Standard Wetherspoon. Dreary dark wood and little light.

DRINK: *** A good selection but nothing overly special.

PRICE: **** As with all Wetherspoon you're guaranteed a cheap night out.

ATMOSPHERE: * Lacked soul and an identity, it doesn't stand out from the others of its kind.

STAFF: ** Friendly enough and good quick service.

The Ship of Fools, 9-11 London Road, CR0 2RE. Call 020 8681 2835.