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 for pub details, and to ‘Submit Update’ when they find incomplete or out-of-date information.
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 for pub details, and to ‘Submit Update’ when they find incomplete or out-of-date information.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 & CLUBS CONVERTED TO REAL ALE
INNER LONDON
EC3, GINGER LILY, Pan Paciific London, 80 Houndsditch. Singaporean style hotel cocktail bar. Asahi keg beer and bottles from Asahi and St Peters.
E2, CAVE CUVEE, 250a Bethnal Green Rd. Wine bar underneath the Shop Cuvee. The shop is open 7 days a week. You drink the stock from the shop above. Bottled craft beer. E2, PARTNERS (The Geffrye Museum), 1 Geffrye St. Reopened having closed c.2000 as MOLLY’S CAFÉ. This is the cafe offering at Hackney’s Museum of the Home (formerly known as the Geffrye Museum). There is a bistro and bar open in the evening and with street access, along with a museum-facing canteen and serve-yourself garden zone and terrace. The cafe is named after Molly Harrison, one of the museum’s curators in the 1940s and 50s. Keg beer. Formerly MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE
E3, BOURBON, 387 Roman Rd. A ‘stateside dive bar’ with 40 bourbons. American keg beer. Operated by the same team as the Angel of Bow.
E3, TWO MORE YEARS, 7 Roach Rd. The venue was saved from demolition and is set across three floors, with exposed raw brick walls, enormous hanging ivy from vaulted warehouse ceilings, raw wood benches and original iron framework. Craft beer from Purity.
E9, LORD NAPIER STAR (Electric Star), 25 White Post La. Reopened after 26 years. Two real ales (e.g. Five Points Best, Hammerton N1). Large open plan space on ground floor, with central bar accessible by customers from three sides, a DJ booth and seating booths. Above is a second bar and DJ booth as well as a bookable room for private parties, and also a roof terrace. (Update from last WPU).
E9, WHITE LION, 331 Wick Rd. Reopened as HABBOT BAR & LOUNGE – a bar/restaurant with keg beer and African food.
E10, NECKSTAMPER BREWERY TAPROOM, Unit 3, Cromwell Ind Est, Staffa Rd. Keg beer. Outside seating.
E17, BEERBLEFISH BREWING TAPROOM, Unit 2A-4, Uplands B, Uplands Business Park, Blackhorse La, near other brewery taprooms. Brewing continues at their Edmonton site until November 2021 after which it is intended to be moved here. All Beerblefish beers are suitable for vegans and are cask/KeyKeg/bottle-conditioned. Large bar area with bench, table and stool seating for up to 50 people; four seats outside. A striking space age mural by renowned urban artist Tizer ID covers the back wall. Service is from a central bar adjoining the temperature-controlled ground floor cellar. Three cask ales from Beerblefish and one guest ale are usually on sale, also wines, spirits and soft drinks. Free to use pool table and low-key background music. Payment is card only. E17, LORD RAGLAN (Trust Inns), 199 Shernhall St. Refurbished in 2021 and under new management. Two real ales (e.g. Timothy Taylor Landlord, Marston’s 61 Deep).
E17, TRUMAN’S SOCIAL CLUB (Black Eagle Brewery), 1 Priestley Way. Real ale now available, currently with one changing Truman beer.
E20, HAUGEN, 9 Endeavour Sq. A restaurant/bar with bottled and keg beer. The bar is on the rooftop. The ground- floor restaurant features an indoor winter garden and large terrace and a deli. The first-floor has a dining room and cocktail bar with outdoor terrace and two private dining rooms.
NW1, FIFTY FIVE (Stonegate Pub Partners), 31 Jamestown Rd. Renamed ALL ABOUT EVE, still a cocktail bar but with some draught beer from Camden Town Brewery as well as Guinness.
NW1, MONARCH, 40-42 Chalk Farm Rd. Reopened and renamed MONARCHY by new operator ZX Ventures (owned by AB Inbev).
NW2, WINDMILL (B & B London Ltd), 57 Cricklewood Broadway. Reopened in August by two brothers who also run a catering operation which provides the food. Draught keg beer.
NW11, PAPILLON, 30 Market Pl, Falloden Way. Reopened as KASA KOSHER – a Kosher restaurant with limited keg offerings (Peroni and Grolsch).
N1, JOKER OF PENTON STREET (ex-Laines), 58 Penton St. Reopened as DAY & NIGHT, advertising itself as ‘Independent Cafe/Bar/Radio’.
N1, NORTH BY NORTH WEST, 188-190 New North Rd. Reopened as KNOWHERE SPECIAL
N4, ARSENAL TAVERN (Stonegate Pub Partners), 175 Blackstock Rd. Reopened after repairs as a Craft Union pub. Doom Bar, Landlord and a guest ale at present.
N4, ZELMAN DRINKS, 5 Station Pl. Reopened as NIGHT OWL.
N6, DUKE’S HEAD, 16 Highgate High St. Reopened with up to four real ales available.
N16, ORIGINAL SIN, 129 Stoke Newington High St. Reopened as the relocated LOADING games bar (see below).
N17, CORNER PIN (Beavertown), 732 High Rd. Reopened after a decade of closure. One handpump selling rotating guest ales.
SE1, BERMONDSEY BAR & KITCHEN, 40 Bermondsey St.
Bar/restaurant opened November 2018 in former office building and adjacent car park.
SE1, ELECTRIC SHUFFLE, 10 Bermondsey St. Opened August in railway arches by the team behind Flight Club, with 10 shuffleboards, capacity for 350 people and suggested 90- minute bookings for teams of up to 16 participants. Players must be 18+. Draught beers are keg.
SE1, HOP KINGDOM , 16 Druid St. Indoor skatepark and bar in two railway arches, opened August 2018. Bar open to non-skaters. Two Hop King own beers on tap and in cans.
SE1, LONDON CITY RUNNERS CLUBHOUSE, 130 Druid St. Bar opened August 2018, offering beer, cocktails, coffee and space for club functions. Open to non-club members.
SE1, ROSE & CROWN (Shepherd Neame), 47 Colombo St. Reopened.
SE3, BLACKHEATH NEWBRIDGE SOCIAL CLUB, 22 Charlton Rd. Up to three real ales usually from Greene King.
SE6, PERRY HILL (Doghouse Pub Company), 78-80 Perry Hill. Now two real ales (e.g. Brockley).
SE8, BLACK HORSE (Dirty Liquor (Stonegate)), 195 Evelyn St. Reopened.
SE8, ROYAL GEORGE (Samuel Smith), 85 Tanners Hill. Having been closed for a period, reopened with new management early August 2021.
SE16, BLUE ANCHOR (Stonegate Pub Partners), 251 Southwark Park Rd. Reopened July 2021 after refurbishment under Craft Union management. London Pride, Doom Bar and a guest ale are listed as current available.
SE17, HUNTSMAN & HOUNDS (Market Taverns), 70 Elsted St. Reopened.
SE17, MANOR OF WALWORTH (Antic), 140-142 Walworth Rd. Reopened under Portobello management. Freehold is on the market.
SE23, BIRD IN HAND (Stonegate), 35 Dartmouth Rd. Reopened.
SE19, COOPERS (Antic), 58-60 Westow Hill. A new Antic outlet, opened in July in a former retail unit. Mainly a food venue, though with a small area for drinkers. Advertised as a ‘bakery by day and a bar by night’. Draught keg beer is sold in schooners (2/3 pint). Opening hours are not advertised.
SE19, MEMORY BOX, 66 Westow Hill. Cocktail bar opened in July, with a sister venue with same name in central Croydon.
SW1, GANYMEDE, 139 Ebury St. A second Lunar pub company venue after their Hunter’s Moon in Chelsea, this one named after the largest moon of Jupiter. The pub website explains a tenuous connection with a previous wine bar on the site. There is a 30-cover bar area at the front and to the rear a 55-cover dining room offering modern- European cuisine with a daily-changing menu, plus brunch on Saturdays and roasts on Sundays. The bar serves real ale. Awaiting further detail at date of this entry.
SW1, WILTON ARMS (Grosvenor Estates), 71 Kinnerton St. Reopened by new operator Inda Pubs. Two real ale handpumps with two Allsopps ales: a new ‘brand’ owned by a descendant of the Allsopp family who has revived the beers.
SW3, CADOGAN ARMS (Cadogan), 298 Kings Rd. After extensive refurbishment, finally reopened in July 2021 by a joint venture between JKS Partners and Dominic Jacobs, the man behind the Running Horse in Mayfair. The pub ‘will showcase exclusive beers, cask and craft ales alongside an extensive wine list and contemporary cocktails’. Food includes Sunday roasts. Four cask ale handpumps feature three rotating semi-regulars and a guest ale. On keg there is Guinness and a cider plus another dozen or so lagers and other beers.
SW3, SURPRISE (ex-Young’s), 6 Christchurch Terr. Reopened post-Covid and now leased to Jack Greenall, a scion of the Greenall Whitley brewing family. The pub features a bar and 28-cover restaurant area plus a private dining room. The general manager had previously been at the Harwood Arms in Fulham and the chef comes from the Rabbit in Chelsea. Four ales at date of survey, including a Ringwood house- branded ale.
SW4, ROSE & CROWN, 2 The Polygon. Reopened as ROSE & CROWN, CLAPHAM following a major refurbishment retaining a dark panelled walnut bar on the ground floor which remains a traditional pub. The new first floor dining room is a great addition.
SW18, SAMBROOK’S BREWERY TAP, 40 Ram St. Opened in July on the site of the former Young’s Brewery at the Ram Quarter in the heart of Wandsworth. The Tap has outside seating in Bubbling Well Square and two inside bars, one downstairs with tall tables and stools plus a snug to one side with bench seating. The upstairs bar is also a mix of tall tables and stools plus plenty of comfortable bench seating. Both bars have great views of some large fermenting and conditioning tanks. The handpumps are bespoke, made for Sambrook’s by Harry Masons in Birmingham who have been making specialist beer engine equipment since 1803. The old coppers from the Young’s Brewery form the centrepiece of a heritage centre and museum to commemorate continuous brewing on this site since 1522. On site pizzas are provided by Crust Bros. Two cask ales – Wandle and Junction were available on opening.,
WC2, BEER HOUSE (SSP), Charing Cross Station. Reopened.
WC2, GEORGE (GK Metropolitan), 213 Strand. Reopened. W1, COACH & HORSES (Shepherd Neame), 2 Old Compton St. Reopened.
W1, INN 1888. Reopened.
W1, PORTMAN. Reopened.
W1, WOODSTOCK, 11 Woodstock St. Thought to have been permanently closed as a pub and converted to a bistro, this site miraculously reopened as a ‘proper pub’ again in August 2021. Six keg beer fonts plus one real ale on rotation. Classic pub food.
W2, DUKE OF KENDAL (Trust Inns), 38 Connaught St. Reopened.
OUTER LONDON
BRENTFORD, SIX BELLS AT BRENTFORD LOCK (Fuller’s), 148 High St. Reopened and reverted to just the SIX BELLS. Now a LGBTQ venue with regular live music and a beer garden. Fuller’s London Pride was available recently.
BROMLEY, BAR SPORT, 196-198 High St. Closed in 2016, this pub reopened as the ARTFUL DUKE in August still with a focus on sports TV, and also on food, available for most of the day. At as the opening date real ale was not available, but the handpump on the bar is promising.
NORWOOD GREEN, LAMB, 137 Norwood Rd, UB2 4JB. Reopened in 2021 after extension and major refurbishment. Six keg beers but no real ale.
SIDCUP, BLACK BOY (Heineken/ Town Centre Inns), Southspring. Reopened.
PUBS & CLUBS CLOSED, CONVERTED, OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE
INNER LONDON
EC1, BARSMITH (Marylebone Leisure Group). Closed, future uncertain.
EC1, LINO (Wright & Bell), Closed for financial reasons after being operated by administrators since May 21.
EC2, CITY GOLF CLUB. Now a fitness centre
EC2, MERCHANT OF BISHOPSGATE (SSP), Closed as part
of station redevelopment.
E1, BAR LOCKS (Stonegate Pub Partners). Closed; freehold has been on the market.
E2, SUNDAYS BREW CO TAPROOM. Closed.
E6, RED LION (Dirty Liquor (Stonegate)). No longer sells real ale.
E8, HACKNEY HEART. Licence revoked after multiple failure, future uncertain.
E14, ALL BAR ONE (M&B). As with the SLUG & LETTUCE next door, this bar is closed for a makeover.
E15, BAR ONE. Closed.
E15, CART & HORSES. Closed for refurbishment until autumn 2021.
E17, BUXTON CLUB,. Now an event space.
N1, 163 UPPER STREET. Noted in August as closed and partially boarded up.
N1, CHARLES LAMB (The Brill UK LLP). Closed and boarded up. N1, FOUR SISTERS (Stonegate Pub Partners). Closed, future uncertain.
NW1, QUEENS HEAD & ARTICHOKE. Closed for
refurbishment which seems to be taking a lot longer than expected.
NW1, UNICORN. Closed, future uncertain.
NW2, LAMBO BAR & RESTAURANT. Not reopened after lockdown, future uncertain.
NW4, GREYHOUND (ex-Young’s). Not reopened after lockdown, future uncertain.
SE3, O’NEILL’S (M&B). Handpump unused.
SE15, DUKE OF SUSSEX (Star). Refurbished in summer 2021 but appears to be no longer serving real ale.
SW1, DOLPHIN BAR & GRILL. Self-reported closed.
SW1, M BAR VICTORIA ST (M W Restaurants). Believed closed.
SW1, OTHER PALACE BAR (Really Useful Group). Self reported temporarily closed due to pandemic.
SW1, PLANET HOLLYWOOD. Self-stated closed due to Covid pandemic. Site future uncertain.
SW1, PRINCE OF WALES (Stonegate Pub Partners/Traditional London Pubs Ltd), Wilton Rd. Reported closed, future uncertain.
SW1, SOURCED MARKET. Has become OTHERWORLD. Looking a bit like an upmarket surgery from the outside, Otherworld is ‘an immersive virtual reality entertainment venue using Immersion Pod Technology featuring Wind, Heat & Rumble!’ There is a self-serve bar with ten taps of beer and cocktails on offer for paying visitors but also ‘a full service bar at all of our venues, so if you’d like to come in for a drink then please feel free to do so, even without a booking!”
SW18, ROYAL STANDARD (Stonegate Pub Partners). An electrical fire in the cellar has meant a temporary closure. Should reopen before Christmas.
SW19, FRANKIE & BENNY’S (TRG). Closed; lease on the market.
SW19, GARDEN SHED (Stonegate Pub Partners). No longer sells real ale.
WC1, HOLBORN WHIPPET (Bloomsbury Leisure). Has remained closed following last lockdown, future uncertain. WC1, NIGHT & DAY. Closed and boarded up.
WC2, CROSS KEYS, 31 Endell St. Currently does not serve real ale.
WC2, CHIQUITO (TRG) Leicester Sq. Closed.
WC2, DALY’S WINE BAR (City Pub Company). Not reopened post-lockdown, future uncertain.
WC2, ROYAL GEORGE (M&B). Reported closed and boarded up as at start of August.
WC2, TEMPLE BREW HOUSE (City Pub Company). Remains closed until at least September when it is reported the site may reopen as an events venue only.
W1, 68 & BOSTON. As at early August 2021, still closed. Had become a cocktail bar with a limited selection of bottled beers only.
W1, COACHMAKERS. No longer serving real ale.
W1, CROWN (M&B) Brewer St. Self-reported closed as at late July 2021.
W1, FRANCO (Stonegate Pub Partners). Closed.
W1, GEORGE & DRAGON. No longer serving real ale. W1, JIMI LOVES GLORIA. Reported closed by end of July. Was PILLARS OF HERCULES and HERCULES PILLARS
W1, PERCY & FOUNDERS. Self-reported closed for the time being. Future of site not known.
W1, SOURCED MARKET. Self-reported closed, future of site not known.
W1, UNION. Self-reported closed as at late July 2021.
W2, GREEN MAN (PubLove). No longer selling real ale.
W4, STATION HOUSE (Punch). Closed for building work.
W5, JONOS. Remains closed since lockdown now because of ‘onsite construction works’.
W10, PORTOBELLO HOUSE (Stonegate Pub Partners/ Portobello House), 225 Ladbroke Gro. Renamed NEIGHBOURHOOD PORTOBELLO The ground floor bar of this Notting Hill ex-pub was taken over in July to create a cocktail bar with food with a South American twist. Card payments only. No draught beer.
W12, ORCHARD TAVERN (Star). Once again no longer serving real ale.
W14, BEACONSFIELD (Inn-Vestment Estates LLP). Closed as at September but advertising for management and staff. W14, COLTON ARMS (Hippo Inns (Stonegate)). Closed in July as pub transfers to Redcat.
OUTER LONDON
BELVEDERE, EARDLEY ARMS (Wellington). No longer sells real ale.
BELVEDERE, GREAT HARRY (Stonegate Pub Partners). Sold and boarded up by August.
BEXLEYHEATH, CELEBRATIONS @ BEXLEY. Closed; lease
on the market.
CROYDON, CRONX. Closed, lease not renewed by brewery.
CROYDON, OLDE CLOCK TOWER. Did not reopen after the pandemic. Freehold on the market.
CROYDON, URBAN XCHANGE. Renamed GUSTOSO
RESTAURANT & BAR. Draught beer no longer served.
EAST MOLESEY, SEXTONS AT HAMPTON COURT. Closed; lease on the market
ENFIELD, PRINCE ALBERT (Craft Union). No longer sells real ale.
ENFIELD, SUN & WOOLPACK (Greene King). No longer sells real ale.
KENTON, NEW MOON (Wetherspoon). Wetherspoon having recently bought the freehold, the pub has not reopened following the last lockdown.
KINGSTON, CORNERSTONE (Greene KingJ. Closed for first lockdown and has remained closed since.
REDBRIDGE, RED HOUSE (Whitbread). Closed, future uncertain
ROMFORD, CROWN. Closed again since 2019, future uncertain.
ROMFORD, PRINCE ALBERT (Wellington). Closed August 2020, demolition expected: most of the premises in the street are surrounded by hoardings, awaiting demolition or redevelopment.
RUISLIP, FAIRWAY (Greene King). Closed along with golf course for HS2 works.
SOUTH RUISLIP, CHIQUITO (TRG. Did not reopen after first lockdown. Lease on the market.
SURBITON, DUKE (Greene King). Closed for first lockdown and has remained closed since.
TEDDINGTON, WALDEGRAVE ARMS. Closed, lease on the market.
UXBRIDGE, CHIQUITO (TRG). Did not reopen after first lockdown. Lease on the market.
OTHER CHANGES
INNER LONDON
EC1, LONDON APPRENTICE (333). To reopen as SHOREDITCH BALLS, a Golf themed bar.
EC2, KITTY HAWK (Wright & Bell). Became BREAD STREET KITCHEN & BAR, a Gordon Ramsey restaurant and bar with keg and bottled beer.
E8, BAR 512, 512 Kingsland Rd. Renamed VILLAGE 512, a new LGBTQ+ friendly bar opened in September.
E9, GREENHOUSE, Unit 1, 96 White Post La. Renamed HW TOWN HALL. Canal side bar and music venue. Keg beer. E14, GIANT ROBOT BEER BAR (London Union). Renamed PERGOLA ON THE WHARF.
N13, BIRD IN HAND (Stonegate Pub Partners). Shortened to BIRD HAND.
N14, OAKWOOD TAVERN. Renamed DOYLE’S.
N16, LOADING. Renamed ESCAPE. No cask beer. LOADING has relocated (see above).
N22, MONAGHAN’S TAVERN. Renamed PJ O’CONNORS. NW2, ANGIE’S BAR. Renamed ANGIES III.
NW9, MCDONAGHS BAR. Renamed CORNER HOUSE following a change of management.
SE10, SIGNAL @ THE O2 (Signal Brewery). Renamed
CLOUD NINE.
SW8, FLANAGAN’S OF BATTERSEA. Demolished in May. Student flats to be built.
SW8, PAVILION. Demolished during Summer. Student flats to be built.
SW15, TOY SHOP. Will reopen as a SIMMONS this September.
W1, KRAFT BEER @ MERCATO METROPOLITANO. Renamed MERCATO MAYFAIR.
W1, SHEPHERDS TAVERN (Greene King). Now operated by GK’s Metropolitan Pub Company under the CHESTERFIELD ARMS name again, its previous name 1769-1938. Ales include an IPA and a house bitter.
W10, REAL ALE (Real Ale Ltd). Renamed REAL DRINKS.
OUTER LONDON
CROYDON, APATURA LOUNGE RESTAURANT. Renamed KING OF THE SOUTH in August and advertised as a pub & kitchen. Live music events and there are ‘happy hours’.
CROYDON, BAD APPLE. Became ENCLAVE, a shisha lounge.
KINGSTON, CRICKETERS, 20 Fairfield South. Already reported closed. Planning permission sought for conversion to residential, June 2021.
NEWBURY PARK, AVENUE. Having closed in 2018, demolished during June-July for replacement by 149 flats. STOCKLEY PARK, STOCKLEY PINES. Renamed BAR AT
STOCKLEY. The bar is run independently of the golf club and is open to general admission. No real ale.
TOLWORTH, BROADWAY BAR CAFE. Closed since Nov 2019. Site is known to be earmarked for a total rebuild. Planning application for this work submitted in Jan 2021 has been refused.
UXBRIDGE, QUEEN’S HEAD (Greene King). No longer LocAle accredited following drastic reduction in real ale range. WELLING, LORD KITCHENER (Milton Pubs and Taverns). Reported closed since 2019. Planning permission granted to convert to retail with 19 apartments.