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 for pub details, and to ‘Submit Update’ when they find incomplete or out-of-date information.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
EC1, PIVO, 2-4 Old St. Reopened and renamed DUKE OF WELLINGTON OLD STREET, connected to the Duke of Wellington in Spitalfields.
EC4, JAMIES LUDGATE HIL, 47 Ludgate Hill. Relaunched in October 2023 by Breal Group as ANDREA LUDGATE HILL. 4 keg beers: Guinness, Martina Czech Lager, Moretti Lager, Peckham Sesh IPA.
WC2, CHIQUITO (Soho Estates/Restaurant Group), 20-21 Leicester Sq. Reopened as MR. WHITE’S, part of a Marco Pierre White chain and promoted as a steak, pizza and gin outlet.
E8, HACKNEY HEART, 255 Mare St. Reopened and renamed HEART OF HACKNEY.
E14, GREENWICH PENSIONER, 28 Bazeley St. Reopened and real ale reinstated: 2 guest beers such as Oakham Citra.
N4, BRAVE SIR ROBIN, 29 Crouch Hil. Reopened as ROBIN ALE & CIDER HOUSE at the beginning of October. 10 keg lines, up to 4 cider lines and up to 6 cask, including a stout, from independent UK breweries. Operator Nick Bailey was previously the manager at the Southampton Arms.
N14, SOUTHGATE CLUB, 17 Chase Side. Sells real ale: Courage Directors; Marston’s Pedigree and Wychwood Hobgoblin Gold.
N16, THREE CROWNS), 175 Stoke Newington High St. A recently installed handpump offers Marble Manchester Bitter.
N17, MOTHER KELLY’S TOTTENHAM, 16 Ashley Rd. Latest tap room and blender with 20 beer lines, sours a speciality.
NW1, CROWNDALE, 61-65 Crowndale Rd. Reopened in April 2022 as the CAMDEN. Live events may require ticket purchase, so do check in advance. Live DJs. Located just behind the towering historic theatre that is KoKo.
NW1, BELGO NOORD BAAR, 72 Chalk Farm Rd. Reopened as CAMDEN CLUB. Now a very music orientated venue and on most occasions you might have to buy a ticket to get in.
SE1, SPORTS BAR & GRILL (Stonegate), Unit 1, The Balcony, Waterloo Station. Finally reopened as VICTORY. Cask beer was not yet available at time of survey on 3 November; the two handpumps each had a pump clip from a London brewery turned round, but the bar staff advised that cask beer had not yet been available since the pub reopened on 12 October.
SE6, CATFORD BRIDGE TAVERN (Portobello Pubs), Station Approach, Catford Bridge, SE6 4RE. Real ale reinstated: 3 changing beers.
SE11, JOLLY GARDENERS, 49-51 Black Prince Rd. Real ale reinstated: Adnams Ghost Ship and a guest beer.
SE14, NEW CROSS HOUSE (Greene King/Metropolitan), 316 New Cross Rd. Was refurbished in September with cask ale restored: 4 from the Greene King range.
SE16, SPARTAN BREWERY TAPROOM, 8 Almond Rd. Renamed SUBSTATION, having reopened in August as a Battersea Brewery venue. Calls itself the smallest bar on the beer mile. Reported as having two handpumps and food available.
SW2, ELM PARK TAVERN, 76 Elm Park. Real ale reinstated: a guest beer such as Anspach & Hobday Bermondsey Pale or St Austell Tribute.
SW4, RAILWAY (M&B), 18 Clapham High St. Real ale reinstated: Fuller’s London Pride.
SW6, TOMMY TUCKER (Stonegate), 22 Waterford Rd. Reopened in October, believed to be under the same management as the nearby Kona Kai bar. Currently just one real ale to be expected.
SW11, CANDLEMAKER (Laine), 136 Battersea High St. The pub was suddenly taken over in September from Laine’s by Smok’d, who run the Britannia, SE1 and the Greyhound in Kingston. Like them, a ‘modern British barbecue restaurant’ but free of tie, with a commitment to cask beer and the promise of local favourites such as Twickenham Naked Ladies, it should thrive as a real ale pub.
SW11, WOODMAN (Hall & Woodhouse), 60 Battersea High St. Reopened 26 October with real ale: Badger Best Bitter, Fursty Ferret and Tanglefoot.
SW13, WATERMANS ARMS (Wellington), 375 Lonsdale Rd. Reopened under new management from 28 September.
SW15, REVOLUTION (Revolution Bars), 202 Upper Richmond Rd. Reverted to RAILWAY by Urban Pubs & Bars. Two real ales from local breweries (rugby-themed choices in late September).
SW18, RAM INN (Punch/Laine), 68 Wandsworth High St. Real ale reinstated. 2 guest beers such as Gun Scaramanga, Portobello Star or a Windsor & Eton seasonal.
SW20, RAYNES PARK VALE CLUBHOUSE BAR St (aka Prince) George’s Playing Field, off Grand Drive. Clubhouse open on match days. Three draught beers from By the Horns: Crazy Gang, Hopadelic and West End Pils.
W1, DEVONSHIRE ARMS, 17 Denman St. Previously a Victorian public house and most recently a Jamie’s Italian restaurant and then chicken and burger concept Coqbull, this site has now blossomed again as the DEVONSHIRE. Publican Oisan Rogers, Flat Iron founder Charlie Carroll and Ashley Palmer-Watts, the former Fat Duck executive chef, joined forces to open the new pub and restaurant in November. Home-made bar food includes bacon sandwiches, scotch eggs, sausage rolls and cheese and ham hock toasties. Drinks in this freehouse include cask ale. Upstairs are three dining rooms with 150 covers and a wood-ember grill for steaks and seafood.
W5, PICTURE HOUSE EALING, Unit 8, Filmworks Walk. New cinema complex opened October on the site of the former cinema car park. 4 keg beers in the foyer bar include Camden Stout and Two Tribes Metro Land London Session IPA.
W10, KPH, 139 Ladbroke Grove. Reopened as KNIGHT OF NOTTING HILL in September, the second free house from Zora Singh, who also opened Three Falcons ‘desi pub’ in St John’s Wood. A general refit includes new banquette seating, marble-topped tables and a sound system for anticipated gigs.
W11, WALMER CASTLE (M&B), 58 Ledbury Rd. After a period of closure, reopened in November by Jack Greenall’s Wren Pubs which also run the Surprise in Chelsea. Real ales currently Allsopp’s Pale; Timothy Taylor Landlord and a house beer from Ringwood.
OUTER LONDON
BECKENHAM, MANOR HOUSE (Whelans), 150-156 High St. Reopened in September as ERIN’S, an Austin Whelan pub (named after his daughter) after a £750,000 makeover, the theme is that of a modern Irish pub. Two changing cask ales from Brockley Brewery and keg beers including London micros such as Gipsy Hill, Brixton and Beavertown.
CROYDON, SANDILANDS CLUB, Sandilands. Open to members of the various sporting and social clubs that use its facilities, and also to social members of Sandilands itself. Two guest ales.
HEATHROW AIRPORT, STAR LIGHT (Wetherspoon), Terminal 4 Airside, Nelson Rd. Opened on 2 October in the former Carluccio’s after a £500k investment. The name belongs to the first civil aircraft (a 13 seat Avro 691 Lancastrian) that landed at the airport. Real ales may not be available.
HIGH BARNET, LIBRARY BAR, 143 High St. Reopened as ORA in September 2023, having closed earlier in the year. Same format: bottled beer may be available.
HOUNSLOW, LAMPLIGHTER (Stonegate/Craft Union), 66 Staines Rd. Real ale reinstated: Sharp’s Doom Bar and a guest ale.
KINGSTON, INCOGNITO, The Griffin Centre. Smart cocktail bar at the rear of the Centre, overlooking the Hogsmill River, with a range of keg beers on offer.
UXBRIDGE, PIPEMAKERS ARMS (Naizailai Ltd), 58 St Johns Rd. Reopened as RIVERWALK CAFE. No real ale.
| PUBS & CLUBS CLOSED, CONVERTED, OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE |
INNER LONDON
EC1, EXMOUTH ARMS (Urban Pubs & Bars). No longer sells real ale.
EC1, GUNMAKERS (Heineken). No longer sells real ale.
E6, MILLER’S WELL (Wetherspoon). Closed, future uncertain.
E10, SPARK HOUSE (Laine). Closed, freehold for sale. Was DRUM.
E11, SHEPHERD’S INN. Closed; owner seeking new tenant.
E14, QUEENS HEAD. Closed again with lease on the market.
E16, FOX CONNAUGHT. No longer regularly sells real ale.
E17, SIGNATURE BREW BREWER’S BAR. No longer sells real ale.
N4, NICHOLAS NICKLEBY. Closed with To Let signs on the door, future uncertain.
N4, WORLDS END (Greene King/Metropolitan). Cask beer no longer available.
N7, DEPOT (Mosaic). No longer sells real ale.
N19, CROWN (Stonegate). No longer sells real ale.
N21, DOG & DUCK (Stonegate). No longer sells real ale.
NW4, HENDON (Greene King). Closed, future uncertain.
NW10, ROYAL OAK (Stonegate/Urban Pubs & Bars). Closed, future uncertain.
SE1, HAWKES CIDERY & TAPROOM (The Arch Company/BrewDog). Closed some time ago.
SE6, FELLOWSHIP INN (Phoenix Community Housing/Homegrown Pubs & Bars). Closed on 30 September 2023; operator announced that after a year they had been unable to make the pub financially viable. New leaseholders sought.
SE19, REUNION. Closed for the pandemic and now reopened as a restaurant that does not serve draught beer.
SE23, CAPITOL (Wetherspoon). Closed on 15 October, future uncertain.
SE23, DARTMOUTH ARMS (Stonegate/MEATliquor), 7 Dartmouth Rd. No longer sells real ale.
SE23, RAILWAY TELEGRAPH (Shepherd Neame), 112 Stanstead Rd. No longer sells real ale.
SW1, BEAU BRUMMELL (Crown Estate/Cubitt House). Closed. The site as at October 2023 was operating as a pop-up fast-casual restaurant, Fowl, serving chicken.
SW1, MOO CANTINA ARGENTINA (Moo Pimlico Ltd). Closed by January 2023; on offer for lease.
SW4, BODEAN’S (Smokepit Ltd), 169 Clapham High St. Closed in September, future uncertain.
SW4, PERKY NEL (Livelyhood), 7/8 Cavendish Parade, Clapham Common South Side. Handpumps were removed after the lockdowns but local beers, e.g. Drop Project, remain among the keg range.
SW4, REVOLUTION (Revolution Bars Group), 95/97 Clapham High St. Closed 7 August, future uncertain.
SW6, BROADWAY BAR & GRILL (Stonegate). Reported closed, Stonegate have transferred the licence, so may reopen soon.
SW8, BLAKE’S. Renamed DIRTY BLONDE but since closed. For lease via Jarvis Keller.
SW9, S11 BAR. Closed, Pop Brixton unit may have been repurposed.
SW9, SOUTH WEST SALOON BAR. Closed, Pop Brixton unit may have been repurposed.
SW11, ANCHOR (Stonegate). Closed in early September 2023; Stonegate are advertising for new tenants.
SW11, ASHANTI LOUNGE BAR. Google reports as closed c. July 2023
SW11, LE QUECUMBAR (VSP88). Closed since April 2022; on the market freehold or new lease.
SW11, LONDON HOUSE (Gordon Ramsay). Closed c. July 2022; on the market.
SW11, ROOM 43, 43 Lavender Hill. Closed since c. May 2023, future uncertain.
SW16, MERE SCRIBBLER (Livelyhood). The two handpumps are unused since the COVID pandemic.
SW16, PRATTS & PAYNE (Portobello). Closed on 4 November after sale to a developer whose planning application is expected for conversion to alternative use.
SW17, GORRINGE PARK (Wells & Co). Gave up real ale in September 2023 and will not be restoring it in the foreseeable future.
SW18, BACKYARD CINEMA. After a period of closure, has become PADEL YARD SOCIAL CLUB although this site is earmarked for student flats. The original cinema site in the former TV studios has been demolished.
SW19, LITTLE BRAZIL BAR & RESTAURANT. Closed September 2022 to become Thongnim restaurant with a bar for diners only.
SW19, ROYAL STANDARD. Three handpumps unused.
W1, FLOWERHOUSE (Portman Estate). Self-reported temporarily closed for repairs and reopening autumn 2023. However, freeholders have applied for a new premises licence.
W9, HERO OF MAIDA (Maida Vale Leisure/Harcourt Inns). Closed, future uncertain.
W11, EARL OF LONSDALE (Samuel Smith). Handpumps removed.
W11, PELICAN. Handpumps removed but may return if space can be found.
W14, CROWN & SCEPTRE (Heineken). No longer sells real ale.
OUTER LONDON
BEXLEY, ANCHOR (Blackrose Pubs). No longer sells real ale.
BEXLEY, THREE BLACKBIRDS (M&B/Sizzling). No longer sells real ale.
BLACKFEN, JOLLY FENMAN (Greene King). Cask beer not always available.
BROMLEY, WHITE HORSE. No longer sells real ale.
CHESSINGTON, LUCKY ROVER (Stonegate). No longer sells real ale.
CHESSINGTON, MONKEY PUZZLE (Whitbread/Beefeater). No longer sells real ale.
COULSDON, COULSDON MANOR HOTEL (Bespoke Hotels). The bar is now for residents only.
CROYDON, BROAD GREEN TAVERN (Stonegate/Craft Union). Closed and has recently been on the market.
ERITH, DUKE (Wellington). No real ale, handpumps removed.
HAREFIELD, RIVER GARDEN (Heineken). No real ale, two handpumps unused.
HORNCHURCH, RISING SUN (Tavern Property Co). Closed June 2023, future uncertain.
HOUNSLOW, COACH & HORSES. Closed, future uncertain;
KINGSTON, BRICKLAYERS ARMS (Greene King). No longer sells real ale.
KINGSTON, POTTERY (Stonegate). No longer sells real ale.
PURLEY, ELLIOTT’S. Reopened as WHISPERS. No longer sells real ale.
RAYNERS LANE, TITHE FARM SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB. No real ale, handpump removed.
ROMFORD, BULL (M&B/Oak Tree). No longer sells real ale.
ST MARY CRAY, WHITE SWAN (Stonegate). Closed September 2023. Freehold had been on the market.
SUDBURY HILL, RISING SUN (Stonegate). Closed since a serious fire in October and likely to have been demolished.
TEDDINGTON, RED LION (Stonegate). Currently closed with lease on the market.
| OTHER CHANGES |
INNER LONDON
EC1, CRAFT HOUSE LONDON. Renamed CLERKENWELL TAVERN.
EC1, MOOR & MEAD (Barworks). Renamed MARLOWE and now operated by ETM Group.
EC3, BUNCH OF GRAPES (M&B), 14 Lime St. Converted to Nicholson’s format in September 2023.
E7, HUDSON BAY (Wetherspoon). Already reported closed, buyer was Quwwat-Ul-Islam Society Newham London
E8, FARR’S SCHOOL OF DANCING (Portobello). Renamed FARR’S DALSTON.
E13, SWAN. Empty for a decade but now in use as a Barber’s shop with flats above.
E15, REFRESHMENT ROOM (Stonegate). Reopened as COCOCURE HAUS. No real ale and operating as a restaurant/nightclub. Keg beer.
E17, TRYST. Demolished over a decade after closure. To be replaced in 2025 by mixed use development including a music venue.
NW2, BRONDESBURY, CRICKLEWOOD & WILLESDEN GREEN CONSERVATIVE CLUB. Demolished in October (along with the Queensbury) to make way for 48 flats and new pub.
NW2, QUEENSBURY. Demolished (see above)
NW9, CLERY’S CLOCK BAR (JDM Investments). Renamed HYDE TAVERN.
NW11, WALLACE. Closed 2019, becoming Reyhoon kebab in 2021.
SE8, JOB CENTRE (Antic). Renamed JAM CIRCUS as part of a 2023 refurbishment. Real ale range expanded with up to six guest ales.
SE10, CAFE ROUGE. Rebranded BANANATREE in autumn 2023. Primarily a pan-Asian restaurant but does serve drinks without a meal. Sited partly on the footprint of the former, long closed Greenwich Park railway station, abutting, as it does, the Hotel Ibis Greenwich.
SE13, FOX & FIRKIN (Atmospheric Pub Company). Now operated by Whelans.
SE19, MEMORY BOX. Closed October 2023. Reopened as ALESSANDRO’S, a restaurant/bar (no cask).
SE20, MITRE (Heineken). Closed in 2019. Planning now granted to convert the pub into flats.
SW1, BALMORAL CASTLE (Westminster City Council). Closed since 2002 and demolished by January 2023 to provide community supported housing.
SW6, SANDS END (Butcombe Brewery). Renamed FULHAM ARMS and sells two or three Butcombe real ales.
SW11, ADDRESS (Darwin & Wallace). Renamed TABLE.
SW17, TAPS & TAPAS. Renamed FOURTEEN.
SW18, COUNTRY HOUSE (Stonegate). Has reverted to a tenanted pub.
SW18, SCHOONER. Renamed 24K BAR & LIFESTYLE, now a cocktail bar with limited keg beers
SW19, CMYK. Became a dental surgery.
SW19, FRANKIE & BENNY’S. Became a McDonald’s.
W1, UNION (Portman Estates/Faucet Inn). Demolished 2022 along with whole block. To be replaced with commercial uses and up to 51 residential units.
W13, MEDITERRANEAN KITCHEN, 78-80 Northfield Ave. Renamed MO’S RESTAURANT.
OUTER LONDON
BEXLEYHEATH, CARVED. Already reported closed. Became a convenience store in 2022.
BEXLEYHEATH, CELEBRATIONS @ BEXLEY. Already reported long term closed; planning permission granted for conversion of existing building into five residential units and community use at ground floor. Was ROYAL STANDARD.
BELMONT, CIRCLE. Closed since late 2020, converted to The Massage Company.
CANONS PARK, FUSION VIBES. Renamed BAMBI.
CROYDON, SAHARA BAR & LOUNGE. Closed in 2016, now a Shisha café that does not serve draught beer.
CROYDON, SOUTH BEATS. Closed in 2019, now a bakery/cafe.
HANWORTH, JORDY’S BAR. Reverted to EDDIE’S SOCIAL CLUB.
HIGH BARNET, WHITE LION (Gto Property). Closed 2017, became vehicle hire business by 2021.
KENTON, WEMBLEY NORTH CONSERVATIVE CLUB. Demolished 2022. To be replaced by housing with community space.
NORTH CHEAM, QUEEN VICTORIA. Having closed in around 2006, demolished in 2021.
RAYNERS LANE, MAN OF ARAN. Having closed Autumn 2022, became restaurant June 2023.
SOUTH CROYDON, VIEW. Closed 2017, now occupied by Evergreen Power UK as offices.
SOUTH RUISLIP, GOURMET 4. Became a McDonalds, August 2023.
UXBRIDGE, METROPOLITAN TAVERN (Stonegate). Converted to Craft Union format; only Doom Bar available on a recent visit.
WELLING, LORD KITCHENER (Milton Pubs). Already reported closed January 2019, permission now granted for conversion to retail with 19 apartments.
WEST DRAYTON, BRICKMAKERS. Closed since c.2015, demolished 2023 but no planning permission found.