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Survey labels Croydon UK chav capital

3:14pm Thursday 31st July 2008 in


Croydon is the chavviest town in the country according to an online survey.

More than 4000 voters dubbed it the chavviest in the land for 2008.

The survey, on website chavtown.co.uk, saw Croydon net 22 per cent of the vote, more than 1,000 votes in front of its nearest rival Hull.

Used as a derogatory term, Webster’s New Millennium Dictionary of England defines a chav as “the lower class; uneducated and ignorant people”.

Being the chavviest town in 2008 adds to a dubious list of honours for Croydon including giving its name to the Croydon facelift - a hairstyle where girls scrape back their hair into a ponytail.

Describing Croydon, the site says: “Chavs come from far and wide to worship at the pikey temple that is the Whitgift Shopping Centre, a place that has more McDonalds, KFC’s and Burger Kings than any other place on the planet – many a chav family can be seen having their Sunday lunch in one of these fine eateries.

“However, night-time is when Croydon really comes into it’s [sic] own. The younger chavs are usually on their way home due to their curfew/electronic tags/time to feed the baby and this is when the older chavs (i.e: 15-20 yr olds) decide to descend on the Croydon ‘strip’.

Contributor marty_gill adds: “If anyone wants to see chavs in their natural environment and run the risk of getting mugged, stabbed, raped, glassed, shot or just plain ‘dissed’ then come down to Croydon, it’s even got Chav trams which are free to chavs.”

Council leader Mike Fisher leapt to Croydon’s defence, saying the survey was unfair.

He said: "I don't take much notice of these silly websites.

"I imagine half the people who took part in this survey haven't been anywhere near Croydon.

"I've been to other places that could claim the title over Croydon."

  • What do you think? Is Croydon the “chavvies” town in Britain? Or is the survey unfair? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Comments(13)

scoffer says...
3:28pm Thu 31 Jul 08

Spot on !

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ANNE GILES says...
10:21pm Thu 31 Jul 08

This is a load of rubbish. The Macdonalds, KFC and Burger King are not inside the Whitgift - they are outside. Inside we have two Cafe Giardino's, a French Restaurant upstairs, severl upmarket eateries and cafes, and lots of rather lovely shops. Across the road we have Centrale, with more cafes and shops, including the House of Fraser. We also have Allders. Where are these chavs? The only ones I see are in the Pound shop and the burger bars, but not all over Croydon. I teach in Adult Education and have never had a chav as a student.

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scoffer says...
2:41pm Fri 1 Aug 08

I thought it was rather amusing really, I was in a jewellers shop recently in the Whitgit centre... where a couple of 'chav's' were asking the assistant in the jewellers if they could see some of the gold crosses... "the one's with the man on it" rofl!!

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millstop says...
11:36pm Sat 2 Aug 08

Congrats to Croydon on deservedly topping this poll! I work in Croydon and it has its plus points, but I can understand why it's gained this reputation. BTW the website concerned is chavtowns.co.uk (with an 'S').

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ANNE GILES says...
11:19am Mon 4 Aug 08

I have just registered with the chav website, as I am going to tell them what a lovely place this is and what rubbish they are all talking.

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leuty says...
2:41am Thu 7 Aug 08

It did make me laugh to be quite honest. Having lived here all my life I am fully aware that Croydon may not be the most beautiful place but it's not that bad! Although I do admit that we do have about 4 McDonalds within walking distance of each other in Croydon, and that is without the one at Waddon and Colonades!

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Chloe says...
9:11am Thu 7 Aug 08

HAHA! Very amusing although I'd say Sutton should be a close second!

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bromley princess says...
5:25pm Fri 8 Aug 08

If u want to see Chavs go to New Addington.

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Kes says...
9:25pm Fri 8 Aug 08

Like the rest of our country Croydon is going down. Blame our politicians and those that elected them!

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lisha says...
10:22pm Sat 9 Aug 08

yes, there are a lot of chavs here
but there are also a lot of alternative people
are we forgetting the emo-attraction 'timebomb' & the classic Beanos store?

& the 'strip' wouldn't be complete without The Ship and the Black Sheep Bar which are always absolutely packed with goths/grungers/punks
/emos/metal-heads!!




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ANNE GILES says...
11:20pm Sat 9 Aug 08

Which is exactly what makes Croydon such a great place to be. Imagine if every woman wore a pleated skirt, twinset and pearls and carried a Margaret Thatcher handbag. A friend of mine has a lovely Goth daughter. Looks great. Punks look good too. It shows individuality.

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jamescaldwell says...
4:14pm Fri 22 Aug 08

Anne, I couldnt agree more, but its when they spit punch rob rape and swear at you. Have you or Cllr Mike Fisher ever been out in Croydon centre in the evening? Croydon is crawling with idiots looking for a fight and Lunar House is sadly responsible for some of this. I am croydon born and bred and normally stick up for the place, but they have a very good point. IT IS FULL OF IGNORANT PEOPLE. The only thing the article got wrong was the fast food in the whitgift centre. You need to look a bit further than the serenity of the shopping precinct during the day Anne. You come from Selsdon, just look at the things that have gone on in the evening on Seldon High Street recently. It's full of scumbags.

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spamjangled says...
10:00pm Tue 17 Feb 09

I lived in south croydon 10 years ago ; I had a great time and met lots of really excellent people..I have lived in far 'Chavvier' places.Especially Warrington (where I am from!)

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