WhatPub? Update 57
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 for pub details, and to ‘Submit Update’ when they find incomplete or out-of-date information.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 & CLUBS – INCLUDING THOSE CONVERTED TO REAL ALE |
INNER LONDON
E1W, VICINITY Tower Hotel, St Katharine’s Way. Located in the Tower Hotel, a modern bar and restaurant with views of Tower Bridge. Keg beer. Previously the hotel brasserie.
E8, DOLPHIN (Stonegate), 165 Mare St. Reopened but with reduced hours.
E16, HUSK BREWERY TAPROOM, Unit 1a, Brunel Street Works, 5 Silvertown Way. New build unit completed in 2023 in block of flats replacing the existing brewery and taproom (see below). Soft launched on 1 July, the brewery advises there may be issues while they settle in; check opening hours on social media.
E16, ROYAL STANDARD, 116 Albert Rd. Reopened June under new management after a refurbishment and a year’s closure.
E17, WALTHAMSTOW TRADES HALL CLUB, 61-63 Tower Hamlets Rd. One regular cask ale (Tribute) and cans from Exale brewery. In June 2023 cask ale was £3 a pint!
N6, ROSE & CROWN, 86 Highgate High St. Reopened as the CROWN. An addition to the Northern Union operated pubs, a company that has taken previously closed pubs such as the Old White Bear in Hampstead and reinvigorated them. London Pride, Leeds Pale and two guests from London and/or Yorkshire breweries. Spent a decade as a Pain Quotidien chain bakery/cafe.
N7, ADAM & EVE, 489 Liverpool Rd. Reopened as BLEND: coffee by day, cocktails and seemingly a couple of taps for ‘craft’/foreign keg from the Lion Brewery and live music six days a week.
N21, BUSH HILL PARK GOLF CLUB, Bush Hill. Real ale available from the Marston’s range.
SE1, ALEXANDER HAY (Stonegate), Unit 22, Hays Galleria. Cask beer introduced in June 2023: Sharp’s Doom Bar, St Austell Proper Job.
SE1, MONDO BEER & PIZZA, Arch 232, Bank End. A new joint venture between Mondo Brewing and Joe Public Pizzas, opened in spring 2023 and in effect a Mondo taproom with Californian pizzas. Draught beer is served from 16 taps some of which are fed from large copper tanks suspected overhead.
SE1, SHIP (Fuller’s), 68 Borough Rd. Fuller’s gave up their lease early 2023 and the pub was reopened in June by London-based True Pub Co. London Pride, Landlord and Seacider initially available.
SE5, BEAR (Wellington), 296a Camberwell New Rd. Having closed in Nov 2017 and the upper floors converted into flats, the pub finally reopened in May 2023 under new management. Solitary handpump with Bath Gem.
SE11, ROYAL OAK, 355 Kennington La. Having closed in early 2023 when the licensee retired, the pub was subsequently acquired by Windmill Taverns and reopened as MC & SONS. Sambrook’s Pumphouse Pale was recently a guest.
SW9, TAPROOM BY BRIXTON, 43-44 Granville Arcade, Coldharbour La. Reopened as KRAFT BRIXTON, a new outlet by Kraft, the brewer of German-style beers. Up to four of their beers are available (brewed at their Elephant & Castle site), e.g. Heidi Helles, Knut NEIPA, Lotte Hefeweizen, Maike California Pale. Small seating area, board games.
W2, ARCHERY TAVERN, 4 Bathurst St. The STABLEHAND is a new gastropub in the former Hall & Woodhouse Archery Tavern that closed at the start of 2006 when the lease ran out. The site dates from 1839 and the old pub was named after the archery range on which it was built. The site then became a restaurant. The menu indicates two cask beers from Windsor & Eton and Rebellion IPA.
WC1, SQUARE PIG (GK/Metropolitan), 30-32 Procter St. Real ale reinstated after refurbishment. House beer called Oink!
WC2, BELGO CENTRAAL, 50 Earlham St. Reopened after a couple of years closure as BIERSCHENKE BIERKELLER They pour only draught beer brewed in Bavaria from Paulaner and Hacker Pschorr, four types from each. Half a dozen bottled beers also available, complemented by traditional German food.
OUTER LONDON
HILLINGDON, PRINCE OF WALES (Sahara City), 1 Harlington Rd. Reopened following fire.
MITCHAM, POPPY CLUB, 26 St Marks Rd. Royal British Legion Club still serving Young’s Bitter, not previously reported.
NEW MALDEN, HARLEM, 94 High St. American Italian restaurant and bar in former bank premises. Six keg taps.
OLD ISLEWORTH, TOWN WHARF (Samuel Smith), Town Wharf, Swan St. Reopened.
SURBITON, BLUE ORCHID, 12 Claremont Rd. Reopened as the Surbitonian Vine.
| PUBS & CLUBS CLOSED, CONVERTED, OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE |
INNER LONDON
E8, PUB ON THE PARK (Camden Bars). No longer sells real ale.
E9, WHITE POST (Towpath Bars). Ceased trading end of December. Future uncertain.
E16, HUSK BREWING TAPROOM, 58A Railway Arches, North Woolwich Rd. Closed due to relocation. See new openings above.
E17, BIG PENNY SOCIAL. Reported no real ale. The handpumps were removed some time ago but a cask ale was usually available from one of the taps.
E17, WILLIAM MORRIS (Heineken). Closed while transferring to a new tenant.
N1, DUKE OF WELLINGTON (Stonegate/Frontier Pubs), 119 Balls Pond Rd. No longer sells real ale but might when the football season starts.
N8, CARBOYS, 55 Park Rd. Closed in the spring.
N8, TOLL GATE (Milegate), 26-30 Turnpike La. Reopened but does not appear to sell real ale.
N15, PALM. Handpumps unused (again).
N16, LECONFIELD (Stonegate). No real ale but might put one on in the autumn.
N17, SHIP (Heineken). Closed, future uncertain.
NW1, COBDEN ARMS (Banner Inns). Closed 25 May 2023 after 30 years being operated by the same family. Apparently to be taken over by an independent chain that runs about 10 pubs including the the Brondes Age in Kilburn.
NW10, BAR 117. Boarded up, future uncertain.
SE1, DOVER CASTLE. No real ale, handpumps removed.
SE1, TELEPHONE EXCHANGE (Fuller’s). Closed in May, future uncertain.
SE13, FOX & FIRKIN (Atmospheric). No longer sells real ale.
SE14, ONE FOR THE ROAD. Closed some time in 2022.
SE14, ROSE PUB & KITCHEN (Urban Pubs & Bars). No real ale, handpumps removed.
SE14, WALPOLE PUB & KITCHEN. Now simply WALPOLE. Taken over by Fourpure in September 2022 showcasing that brewery’s keg beers, renovated in May 2023. No real ale, handpumps removed.
SE16, PARTIZAN BREWING TAP ROOM. Closed in April.
SE16, SPARTAN BREWERY TAP ROOM. Closed in June.
SE19, AFFINITY BREW CO. Closed with lease on the market.
SE22, DULWICH BEER DISPENSARY (Southey Brewing). Closed late May.
SE27, QUEEN OF THE SOUTH. No longer sells real ale.
SW1, MOO CANTINA ARGENTINA. Closed, future uncertain.
SW2, SYMPATHETIC EAR (Canopy Beer Company). The bar closed on 19 December 2022 with the closure of Canopy brewery.
SW4, 33 ABBEVILLE ROAD. Closed November 2022, future uncertain.
SW9, CAFE CAIRO. Closed, future uncertain.
SW15, CEDAR TREE. Closed in 2021. Planning applications submitted to convert to eitherflats or retail. Upstairs already converted to flats.
SW15, LOST SOCIETY. Closed November 2022, lease on the market.
SW16, CARMINE. Closed c. June 2022, being marketed.
SW19, FIRE STABLES (Young’s). No real ale, handpump unused.
SW19, GARRATT & GAUGE (Stonegate). No real ale, handpumps removed.
SW19, OLD FRIZZLE (Livelyhood). No longer sells real ale.
W1, COURT (M&B). No real ale.
W1, MR FOGG’S Secret GARDEN (Inception). Now an events venue.
W1, RUNNING HORSE (Grosvenor Estates). Closed as part of major redevelopment. Remaining at the corner of Davies Street and Davies Mews, the pub is undergoing renovation works to repair its historic features as well as creating guest bedrooms in existing rooms on the upper floors.
W4, BETTY. Closed January 2023, future uncertain.
OUTER LONDON
CHIPPING BARNET, CHIPPING WORK SHOP. Pop-up closed 25 March 2023
CR4, KINGS ARMS (Novo Pub). No longer sells real ale.
CROYDON, MATTHEWS YARD. These premises closed on 1 June 2023 as part of a planned move to new premises in central Croydon.
ENFIELD, LION (Heineken). Real ale discontinued, pending new beer lines.
GREENFORD, BRIDGE HOTEL (Starboard Hotels). No longer sells real ale.
HACKBRIDGE, RED LION (Heineken). The three handpumps are no longer used for cask ale.
ISLEWORTH, CASTLE (Punch). Closed, future uncertain.
MITCHAM, KINGS ARMS. By June 2023, cask beer (latterly Doom Bar but previously London Pride) had been abandoned.
NORTH HARROW, MCCAFFERTY’S FREEHOUSE (Voyage Inns). Stopped selling real ale a while ago.
ROMFORD, MAWNEY ARMS (M&B/Ember Inns). No longer sells real ale.
SOUTH RUISLIP, GOURMET 4 (CitiGroup/Gourmet 4). Closed c.May 2022; McDonalds have applied for a premises licence
ST MARY CRAY, BEECH TREE (Heineken). As of October 2022, cask ale had been discontinued with no plans for its reinstatement.
WELLING, FORESTERS ARMS (Wellington). Closed with internal items (reportedly including the bar) removed. Planning was granted on appeal in February to build two homes on the pub car park.
| OTHER CHANGES |
INNER LONDON
E18, GALLERY (Tavern Property Co). Reopened and renamed E EIGHTEEN in June 2023, British cuisine with upstairs cocktail bar.
N1, TALBOT (Stonegate/Syrup Pubs). Taken over by Frontier Pubs in June 2023.
N7, ZUBI, 144 Holloway Rd. Renamed BASEMENT 144. Appears to be an event venue.
NW3, STAG (Perritt & Perritt). Young’s have bought the freehold.
SE1, THREE STAGS (Greene King). Became a free house in June.
SE14, TELEGRAPH AT THE EARL OF DERBY (Remarkable Pubs). Acquired by Parched London in May 2023 and renamed EARL OF DERBY since refurbishment. Brockley Summer XPA; Five Points Pale and Taylor Boltmaker initially available.
SE23, BIRD IN HAND Reopened at the end of June after refurbishment. Now run by Antic. Initially available were Volden Session and Pale, Sharp’s Solar Wave, Taylor Landlord, Thornbridge Jaipur and Wimbledon SW19.
SW16, EXHIBIT B (Heineken). Renamed SW16 BAR & KITCHEN. Describes itself as an all-day bar, restaurant, workspace & deli. Wine, cocktails, draught beer & coffee are served alongside a casual quality food offering. Keg beers include Beavertown Neck Oil and Brixton Reliance.
SW18, CRANE (Punch). Sold to VSP88, a real estate company that bought and reopened the Star in South Harrow.
W1, LONDON GIN CLUB (Inception). Renamed Mr Fogg’s Hat Tavern & Gin Club.
W1, MARKET PLACE, 11 Market Place, W1W 8AH. Renamed OXFORD MARKET.
OUTER LONDON
CROYDON, SPREAD EAGLE (Fuller’s). Under the tenancy of Whelan Inns since 6 April 2023 but still serving Fuller’s beers.