WhatPub? Update publishes news items collated by Greater London branches, often from information supplied through the ‘Submit Update’ button on WhatPub. We aim to report all openings and closures of places that satisfy the CAMRA definition of a pub (including those selling draught but not real ale); all pubs that add or remove real ale; and changes of name, ownership or beer policy. Readers are encouraged to visit WhatPub? for pub details, and to ‘Submit Update’ when they find incomplete or out-of-date information.
| NEW & REOPENED PUBS & PUBS CONVERTED TO REAL ALE |
CENTRAL
EC2, LIVERPOOL STREET GRIND (Grind & Co), 38 Broadgate Circle. Restaurant and cocktail bar. 4 keg beers.
EC3, CRAFTY FELLAS, 29-30 Leadenhall Market, Gracechurch St. Situated in Beehive Passage, this is Leadenhall Market’s craft beer bar. 2 cask beers, 9 keg taps and 2 ciders. Changing real ales such as Five Points Pale and Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitter.
W1, COMPTON CROSS, 2 Old Compton St (Shepherd Neame). Reverted to COACH & HORSES and real ale reinstated with Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Whitstable Bay and a seasonal along with two of their Bear Island keg beers.
W1, GUNMAKERS, 33 Aybrook St.Reopened following two year closure with basement restaurant (coming soon) and guest rooms upstairs. Tribute and Bombardier available initially.
EAST
E1, MECHANIC BREWING COMPANY TAPROOM, Arch 22a, Cudworth St. Now offers real ale.
E2, BOXCAR BREWERY & TAPROOM , Unit 1, Birkbeck St. Taproom for Boxcar brewery. Small batch craft beer from a modern and experimental brewery.
E14, LORD NELSON (Star), 1 Manchester Rd. Reopened under new management, now selling real ale: Sharp’s Doom Bar.
NORTH
N1, LIBRARY (Ei Group), 235 Upper St. Real ale reinstated: Sambrook’s Pumphouse Pale Ale. Understood now to be part of the PubLove/BestPlace division of Ei Group with a hostel planned above. Originally ANGEL & CROWN.
N4, ARSENAL TAVERN (Ei Group), 175 Blackstock Rd. Reopened.
N4, CLAPTON CRAFT, 77 Stroud Green Rd. One of a chain of bottle shops opened in 2016 but this one now has a tasting room. 6 keg beers plus the contents of four fridges can now be consumed on the premises.
N5, GRACE, 20-22 Highbury Corner. New keg pub on the ground floor of the legendry Garage music venue.
N5, GRIN & BEER IT, 172 Blackstock Rd. Opened Dec 2018. Bottleshop serving up to 6 keg, bottled beers, cans and wine. Large selection of board games in basement seating area.
N19, ARCHWAY TAVERN (Searchgrade), 1 Archway Cl. Reopened after a four year closure but sadly no real ale.
N22, EARTH TAP, Blue House Yard, 5 River Park Rd. Brewery tap for Earth Ales opened Aug 2018. A bar on a double decker bus! 10 keg taps.
N22, GOODNESS BREWING COMPANY TAP, 5a Clarendon Yard, Coburg Rd. Beers coming from on-site brewery in production since July. Four keg. One handpump on the bar but not always in use. Card payment only.
NORTH WEST
WEMBLEY, PREMIER INN WEMBLEY STADIUM (Whitbread), 1 Wembley Park Blvd. New chain hotel with Thyme Bar & Grill serving 6 standard keg beers.
SOUTH EAST
SE1, CROWN (Wellington), 108 Blackfriars Rd. Real ale now available: usually two changing beers from Marston’s.
SE1, PINEAPPLE (Antic), Draper House, 16 Elephant & Castle. Opened in September and described by Antic as a den, bar and buttery. 2 keg beers sold in 2/3 pint measures.
SE1, SOUTHWARK ROOMS (Star), 60 Southwark St. Reopened and renamed MIRAFLORES. A modern bar and restaurant with a separate basement cocktail bar, now specialising in Peruvian cuisine
SE10, SIGNAL @ THE O2, O2, Entertainment Ave. Croydon’s Signal Brewery originally had a pop-up facility at the O2 but by July 2019 it opened this permanent venue in the hospitality area. No cask ale but some of the keg beers may be ‘live’.
SE15, RED BULL, 116 Peckham High St. Now reopened as a bar after many years of closure and alternative uses.
SE20, CROOKED BILLET (Ei Group), 99 High St. Closed briefly in Sep. 2019 for refurbishment and conversion to Craft Union format and has now reopened, with real ale happily reintroduced: Fuller’s London Pride & Sharp’s Doom Bar.
CROYDON, BROAD GREEN TAVERN (Ei Group), 296 London Rd. Reopened in September 2019 after 9 years closure, now under Craft Union Pub Co management and selling Sharp’s Doom Bar.
CROYDON, FAIRFIELD TAVERN, Fairfield Halls, Park La. Reopened after refurbishment in September. Handpumps removed.
SOUTH WEST
SW1, BEAU BRUMMEL (Cubitt House), 3 Norris Street. New gastropub in central courtyard of St James’s Market, with outdoor terrace and two floors of seating and dining. 2 real ales along with craft keg beers.
SW3, CHELSEA PENSIONERS’ CLUB, Royal Hospital Rd. Club only open to Chelsea Pensioners and their guests. Greene King IPA as Pensioners’ Bitter and Morland Old Speckled Hen usually available.
SW3, EIGHTY SIX, 86 Fulham Rd. Reopened as HUNTER’S MOON the debut site of the Lunar Pub Company. Very much a restaurant/gastropub. 2 real ales reportedly London Pride and, very unusually for London, Wye Valley Butty Bach.
SW6, PILANGO CIDER, Railway Arch 10, Munster Rd. See Pub News for more details.
SW9, BRIXTON BREWERY TAP ROOM, Arch 548, Brixton Station Rd. Brewery opened in 2015. 10 keg beers plus bottles.
SW9, TAPROOM BY BRIXTON , 43-44 Granville Arcade, Coldharbour La. Sister to Taproom by Bethnal Green in former Brixton Village Grill premises opened in November.
SW15, PUTNEY CLUB, 63 Upper Richmond Rd. Young’s Special and a rotating national guest beer on handpump, not previously reported.
SW18, RAM INN (Ram Pub Co (Young’s)), 68 Wandsworth High St. Reopened. See Pub News for more details.
SW19, KILKENNY TAVERN (Ei Group), 131 Merton High St. Reopened October after refurbishment and with new tenants. No real ale.
SUTTON, SUTTON UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB, Gander Green La. Club bar open to the public serving four real ales such as Pride, Doom Bar and Tribute.
WEST
W10, BERTIE BLOSSOMS, 323 Portobello Rd. Formerly the Galicia restaurant, this is now an Ed Sheeran-owned bar & informal eaterie. 6 craft keg lines supplied by Purity, not all their own brand.
W13, BLACK GEORGE, 181 Uxbridge Rd. Reopened. Still no real ale.
BRENTFORD, EALING BREWING TAPROOM, Unit 2, The Ham. Opened November selling 4 cask beers either brewed on the premises or at sister brewery Marko Paulo in the Owl & The Pussycat. 2 keg beers initially but likely to offer more and cider. Bottles and 5l mini casks for take-out. Open Fri 3-8 and Sat 1-8.
HAYES, BOOTLACES (Woolwich Taverns), 10-11 Broadway Pde. Reopened and renamed PUB PUNJABI by new owner who also runs the curry house a couple of doors down.
UXBRIDGE, CROWN & TREATY (Ei/Old Spot), 90 Oxford Rd. Reopened after major refurbishment. Fuller’s London Pride, Rebellion IPA and Windsor & Eton Knight of the Garter regularly available and a local changing beer.
| PUBS CLOSED, CONVERTED, DEMOLISHED OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE |
CENTRAL
EC1, LONDON APPRENTICE. Closed for redevelopment.
EC2, BOTTLESCRUE (Davy’s). Closed. Planning app granted to convert to Gym. Was CITY PIPE.
EC2, CITY BOOT (Davy’s). Closed owing to expiry of lease.
EC2, HOXTON PONY. Closed following operator going into administration. Lease on the market.
EC2, SLUG & LETTUCE (Stonegate), 2 Love La. No real ale.
W1, COMPANY BELOW. Closed early 2018, now a fish & chip restaurant.
W1, HORSE & GROOM (Samuel Smith). No real ale.
W1, TANK & PADDLE (Novus Leisure). Closed. Licence reverted to freeholder, the Crown Commissioners
W1, TGI FRIDAYS BAR & RESTAURANT, 25-29 Coventry St. Closed in January. To reopen as a ‘Happy Bar & Grill’
WC2, GREAT QUEEN STREET, 32 Great Queen St. Closed, future uncertain.
WC2, WOLFE’S BAR & GRILL, 30 Great Queen St. Closed, future also uncertain.
EAST
E1, STABLE (Fuller’s). Closed, future uncertain.
E5, BREW CLUB TAP ROOM. Closed when moved to Hackney in February.
E8, LONDON FIELDS BREWERY TAP ROOM (Carlsberg). Cask beer discontinued.
E8, SHACKLEWELL ARMS (Camden Bars). Handpumps removed.
E8, THREE COMPASSES. Handpump unused.
E8, VICTORIA (Jaguar Shoes). Handpumps also gone.
E9, HECTOR & NOBLE (Star). No longer sells real ale.
E9, MACHINE NO.3. Now a private hire venue called REHAB
E10, BOOTLACES (Punch). Handpumps removed.
E10, PEPPER’S GHOST (Star). All five handpumps unused. Was PRINCE OF WALES.
E13, RED HOUSE (Wellington). Closed, future uncertain.
BARKING, JOLLY FISHERMAN. Closed & boarded-up following sale to Advantage Rock Ltd from Ei Group.
NORTH
N1, BREWDOG ANGEL (BrewDog). Closed again!
N1, BEEF & BREW. Now leased to Barworks who have given the pub a full refurbishment and reopened it under its original name DUKE OF YORK. Lots of keg beers but none in cask.
ENFIELD, MEETING (Greene King). No longer sells real ale.
NORTH WEST
NW2, LOZ LOUNGE, 301 Cricklewood Bdy. Now Shisha Garden Grill, unlikely to sell alcohol.
NW3, BELROSE, 94 Haverstock Hill. Closed. Lease taken over by the owners of Leeds Brewery.
NW8, NEW INN Closed with scaffolding on the outside.
NW8, TRADERS INN (Ei Group). Handpump unused.
ALPERTON, ASK LOUNGE. Did reopen and was renamed AMIRA LOUNGE but closed again after losing licence.
SOUTH EAST
SE1, BLACK HORSE, 254 Tabard St. Closed and boarded up reportedly for the last 6-9 months. For sale sign displayed.
SE5, CAMBRIA (Star). Closed, future uncertain.
SE10, SLUG & LETTUCE (O2) (Stonegate). Real ale removed during refurbishment (in line with the rest of the chain).
SE11, ROYAL VAUXHALL TAVERN (Innovate). No real ale.
SE14, STAR & GARTER. Understood to have closed.
SE16, OLD BANK. Real ale discontinued.
SOUTH WEST
SW6, IMPERIAL ARMS (Star). Closed following operator Epic Pub Company going into administration, lease on the market.
SW8, FLANAGAN’S OF BATTERSEA. Real ale discontinued in 2018 (handpumps unused). Was OLD RED HOUSE.
SW8, NO.29 POWER STATION WEST (Darwin & Wallace). Handpumps also unused since 2018.
SW11, CHURCHILLS (Woolwich Taverns). Handpumps removed.
KEW, CRICKETERS (GK/Chef & Brewer). Closed. Rumoured to have been sold by GK.
MORDEN, GEORGE INN (M&B/Harvester). No real ale. Handpumps removed.
SURBITON, BROADWAY BAR CAFE. Closed. Signs in window state ‘Closed for Refurbishment’, but site is known to have planning permission for a total rebuild.
WEST
W14, ELM (Ei Group), 206 North End Rd. Closed and for sale. Future uncertain.
COWLEY, RUNWAY (Star), High St. Closed in August, lease on the market. Originally ROYAL OAK.
| OTHER CHANGES TO PUBS & CASK BEER RANGES |
CENTRAL
EC3, BALLS BROTHERS (BURY COURT) (Stonegate). Renamed BURY COURT.
EC3, BALLS BROTHERS (MARK LANE) (Stonegate). Now CORN EXCHANGE.
EC3, ISIS BAR & LOUNGE (Grange Hotels). Renamed LEONARDO ROYAL HOTEL BAR & LOUNGE.
EC4, HACK & HOP (Pubs of Distinction), 35 Whitefriars St. Now leased to the Portobello Pub Co.
EAST
E1, OLIVER CONQUEST (Ei/Bermondsey). Returned to tenanted division and now operated by Tidalwave Bars.
E7, FOX & HOUNDS (Ei Group). Converted to Craft Union format after refurb.
E7, HOLLY TREE (Remarkable Pubs). Refurbished by new owners Remarkable Pubs and now has a miniature railway in the beer garden. Real ale range increased: initially Adnams Mosaic, Dark Star Partridge, Fuller’s London Pride and Gales Seafarers Ale.
NORTH
N1, DEAD DOLLS HOUSE (Star), 181 Upper St. Renamed UPPER HOUSE.
N1, ZIGFRID, 11 Hoxton Square. Renamed GIGI’S.
N7, EAGLET (Ei Group), 124 Seven Sisters Rd. Converted to Craft Union format.
N16, SCENARIO, 97 Stoke Newington Rd. Gaming bar renamed LOADING. Still no real ale.
NORTH WEST
NW10, ISLAND (City Pub Company). Reopened following refurbishment by operator Indapubs.
ALPERTON, APNA LOUNGE. Renamed DIU BAR, still a Portuguese café-bar with a couple of keg beers.
HARROW, HARROW (Stonegate). Renamed GEORGE following a refurb. No change to national real ale range. Originally YATES’S.
SOUTH EAST
SE1, MARKET PORTER (Market Taverns). Real ale range reduced to 4 and no real ciders.
SE1, TRINITY (Parched Pubs). Freehold sold to Fuller’s, so expect a change from predominantly GK beers soon.
SE1, WATERLOO BAR & KITCHEN. Renamed HELLO DARLING. Now describes itself as ‘a playful restaurant and botanical bar’. 2 keg beers and a selection of bottles and cans.
SE8, TAPROOM SE8. Ownership transferred to Molson Coors.
SE11, WALCOT 1830 (Ei Group). Reverted to SHIP under the Frontier Pubs managed partnership.
SE14, FIVE BELLS (Ei Group). Being converted to Craft Union format.
SE16, FOURPURE BREWERY TAP ROOM. Renamed BASECAMP TAPROOM and enhanced with up to 43 taps available.
BEXLEYHEATH, BEXLEYHEATH CONSERVATIVE CLUB. Renamed 151 CLUB.
BEXLEYHEATH, COACH HOUSE (Downmores). Renamed LORD HILL by new landlord Lee Dolby who also runs the nearby Prince Albert (now available for lease from Shepherd Neame). The pub facebook page is promoting Bexley’s Own Beer and Marston’s Pedigree.
CROYDON, JOKER (Brakspear Pub Co). Renamed STORE.
CROYDON, KEG & GRILL (Ei Group). Now BANGKOK INN serving Thai food.
WELLING, DOOR HINGE. Ownership changed in early October 2019 when founding licensee Ray sold to local friends Geoff and Steve. Card payments now accepted and the pub hopes to extend its opening hours.
SOUTH WEST
SW2, HAND IN HAND (Ei Group). Being converted to Craft Union format.
SW18, BEN’S CANTEEN. Renamed BLOODY BENS to reflect new microdistillery producing small batches of gin
WEST
W5, VILLAGE INN (Young’s). No longer has LocAle status following Young’s takeover.
W8, HANSOM CAB (Pubs of Distinction). Now operated by the same people who run the Royal Oak in Pimlico.
W12, LOADING (Ei Group). Renamed ESCAPE BAR WEST after brief period as a live music and board games venue.