Croydon town centre is always bustling at the weekends but when I stepped into the Goose on the Market for a quick pint one Sunday afternoon, I was surprised to see how deserted the pub was.

With a massive expanse of empty space in the middle of the pub and the tables and chairs dotted around the outskirts, perhaps it was the way the place was laid out which gave it the impression of being half-empty.

But looking around the pub I could only see a handful of old men sat supping their pints and looking rather depressed as they watched the world go by, along with two younger women in deep conversation in the corner of the room.

Shutting the door on the crowds in Surrey Street, I felt this pub was a quiet retreat for elderly men to sit, drink and reflect on the good old days. And judging by the sombre expressions on some of their faces, it looked like those days had long gone.

However, I noticed a few colourful posters dotted around the pub promoting cheap drink deals at the weekends, so it seems the Goose may become a little more lively on a Friday and Saturday night, drawing in the younger crowds who are out to get drunk as cheaply and as quickly as possible.

In fact, the drink prices were cheap anyway, with a pint of Kronenberg costing around £2.55. There was a fairly good selection of draft and bottled beers behind the bar, along with a choice of house wines, spirits and alcopops for weekend customers.

The barman who served me was friendly and charismatic, but he couldn’t compensate for the lack of atmosphere in the pub.

This particular Sunday afternoon the place was dead, and the interior didn’t do much to cheer me up either. The walls looked like they could have done with a lick of paint and the lighting was dim, making the pub feel even more gloomy.

Things may perk up at the weekends and with the cheap alcohol on offer there is an opportunity to forget about your surroundings, but if it’s ambiance you're after my advice is to keep walking past.

How the pub rates out of five:

Décor XX This pub is crying out for a refurb and it could potentially make all the difference.

Drink XXX There was a decent selection of beers, wines, spirits and alcopops on offer behind the bar.

Price XXXXX Drink prices were cheap, as were the prices on the food menu. The portion sizes also looked quite large and great value for money – although I’m not sure how it tastes.

Atmosphere XX On the afternoon I visited, the pub was empty and felt like a rather depressing place to be. However, things may get a little more lively at the weekends.

Staff XXXX The barman who served me was very friendly and efficient and it was service with a smile, which helped lift the mood.