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 for pub details, and to ‘Submit Update’ when you find incomplete or out-of-date information.
| NEW & REOPENED PUBS & CLUBS – INCLUDING THOSE CONVERTED TO REAL ALE |
INNER LONDON
EC1, SHAKESPEARE (Punch), 2 Goswell Rd. Real ale reinstated, a changing beer such as Renegade Good Old Boy.
EC2, DEVONSHIRE TERRACE, Devonshire Sq. Modern bar and restaurant; part of the Drake & Morgan chain. Keg beer. Opened c.2007 but not previously on WhatPub.
EC4, BOLTER (Bloomsbury Leisure), 65-66 Queen St. Modern pub with 14 keg lines and a cider. Sister pub to the Euston Tap/Pelt Trader.
EC4, THREE CRANES, 28 Garlick Hill. Having closed December 2023, reopened as an independent free house in August 2024. The ground floor is a pub with one real ale (currently Brakspear Gravity) and the two floors above host a restaurant and hotel.
E8, RASPUTIN’S, 171 Mare St. Neighbourhood bar with a dive bar feel. Keg beer.
E9, LA CAMIONERA, 243 Well St. Small bar catering to the Lesbian community. Keg and bottled beer.
E9, YOU CALL THE SHOTS, 13 Morning La. A ‘residency fuelled’ bar from the people who run the Plough (E9). Food is available on a rotating residency basis for chefs to trial their version of drinking food.
E10, LEYTON TECHNICAL (Antic), 265B High Rd. Finally reopened 5 September following major refurbishment by new operator Remarkable Pubs and now named LEYTON ENGINEER. Beers from Adnams, Five Points and Shepherd Neame on launch plus a cider from Seacider.
E14, GREENWICH PENSIONER, 28 Bazeley St. Real ale reinstated, a changing beer such as Wainwright Amber.
N1, ALMA, 77-78 Chapel Market. Real ale reinstated after refurb, two changing beers.
N5, DRAYTON PARK (Tavern Property Co), 66 Drayton Park. Reopened with a rebuilt and reorganised interior. Hoxton Fresh from Great Beyond brewery is proving popular with keg drinkers.
N8, PRINCESS ALEXANDRA (Stonegate), 120 Park Rd. Reopened as GOOD READER. Now an upmarket gastropub with no sports TV, no pool or darts. So far the only cask beer is Woodforde’s Wherry.
N17, BEAVERTOWN CORNER PIN (Beavertown), 732 High Rd. Reopened seemingly now being run by Tottenham Hotspur rather than Beavertown but still selling some Beavertown beers along with other staples.
N22, STEP, 101 Myddleton Rd. Reopened as HILLBILLY SOCIAL 101 after four years of closure. Run by the owners of the Muswell Hillbilly Brewery, whose beers are prominent in the selection. They have DJ nights, poetry, live music, quizzes, clubs and other events. All craft pints are priced at £6.50.
NW3, TIPSY DOG BOTTLE SHOP, Unit 4, 12 Heath St. Open a while but with only cans and bottles available, now with two keg beers for drinking in.
NW7, RAILWAY TAVERN, 129 Hale La. Real ale reinstated: Morland Old Mulled Hen and Purity Mad Goose.
SE1, LION & THE UNICORN (Network Rail/Wetherspoon), Units 3-6 Upper Ground Floor, The Sidings, Waterloo Railway Station. A large Wetherspoon pub opened on 3 September on the site of the old Eurostar terminal. Its name comes from that of the Lion & The Unicorn Pavilion in the nearby 1951 Festival of Britain attraction with a lion and a unicorn seen as ‘symbols of Britain’s character’. Greene King IPA, Abbot; Doom Bar and 4-6 guest beers.
SE16, KERNEL TAP ROOM SPA ROAD, 132 Spa Rd. A new taproom, opened on 8 August, replacing the original one within the brewery, located on the ground floor of a new residential block in Spa Road and providing a large airy space with plenty of seating. L-shaped bar counter and industrial decor with visible ceiling ducting. Two handpumps and 25 keg taps plus canned and bottled beers.
SE27, BADGER BADGER, 543 Norwood Rd. Opened in August 2024 in former Barclays Bank. Offers a range of keg beers. Specialises in Japanese street food. Sister pub to the venue of the same name in Deptford.
SW1, LANE7, Zig Zag Building, 70 Victoria St. Describes itself as a ‘bowling and activity bar’ also including mini golf, shuffleboard, beer pong, augmented darts, and an adults-only games arcade hall downstairs. Chain bar with various draught keg beers plus Patty & Bun burgers. The bar is along the back wall and it’s perfectly possible to just have a drink if you want one.
SW13, WATERMANS ARMS (Wellington), 375 Lonsdale Rd. Now admits non diners.
W4, QUEEN’S HEAD (Stonegate), 12 Sutton Lane North. Reopened under new tenant.
OUTER LONDON
CROYDON, TRICKLE, 26 Dingwall Rd. A new bar underneath a residential block; an open plan, bare-walled space with a reasonably sized terrace at the front. All drinks are served on draught, apart from wine by the bottle. Over 20 taps dispense seven keg beers, three ciders, and also wine by the glass, cocktails and soft drinks. The house beers are brewed by Purity brewery, and there are two others, possibly Brick and Brew by Numbers varieties. Note that two half pints will cost significantly more than a pint.
NEW MALDEN, HAN, 1 High St. Reopened as HANJAN. Has gone under many names but was originally the NEW MALDEN TAVERN.
SUTTON, CHICAGO ROCK, 2 Throwley Rd. Reopened after more than a decade as THROWLEY YARD, an independent cinema and cultural hub. As well as four cinema screens it has a bar and cafe, and there is a strong focus on the local community. The bar serves a selection of keg beers.
| PUBS & CLUBS CLOSED, CONVERTED, OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE |
INNER LONDON
EC1, COMPTON. Converted to coffee shop early in 2024.
EC1, GREEN. No longer sells real ale.
EC2, APOTHECARY. Self-reported closed, future uncertain.
EC2, BALLS BROTHERS (AUSTIN FRIARS) (Mosaic Pub & Dining). No longer sells real ale.
EC3, REVOLUTION. Closed, future uncertain.
EC4, FARRINGDON TAP (Bloomsbury Leisure). No longer sells real ale.
EC4, HAPPENSTANCE (Drake & Morgan). No longer sells real ale.
EC4, SHUTTERS (Heineken). Relaunched as PINEAPPLE CLUB in December 2023 but this appears to have closed by March 2024.
WC1, BLUE LION. No longer sells real ale.
WC1, YORKSHIRE GREY (Stonegate). Now returned to Stonegate tenanted and run by First Restaurant Group. They also go by the title Pub & Rooms. The two handpumps look pretty new but, as yet, no cask ales on sale.
WC2, BIERSCHENKE BIERKELLER. Closed, future uncertain.
WC2, CLUBHOUSE 5 (Stonegate). No longer sells real ale.
E1, COMMERCIAL TAVERN (Urban Pubs & Bars). No longer sells real ale.
E1, SIMMONS TOWER BRIDGE (Wellington). Closed, lease on the market.
E2, GLORY. Closed, future uncertain.
E2, TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD SHOREDITCH. Closed, lease on the market.
E8, BEER & BURGER STORE (Perritt & Perritt). Closed in March. Lease was on the market.
E8, HACKNEY TAP (Bloomsbury Leisure Group). Closed, future uncertain.
E14, PEDLER. Closed, future uncertain.
E14, VAGABOND CANARY WHARF. Closed as was not one of the bars sold to Majestic. Lease was on the market.
E17, WILD CARD BREWERY TAPROOM. No longer sells real ale.
E18, E EIGHTEEN (Tavern Property Co). Closed, future uncertain.
N1, FOX ON THE GREEN (Stonegate). No longer sells real ale, handpumps removed.
N12, MALT & HOPS (Milegate). No longer serves real ale.
N14, KINGS GATE (Stonegate/Craft Union). Refurbished and renamed ANNIE TWOMEY’S. No longer sells real ale, nor is part of Craft Union.
N16, MARQUIS. Reopened after refurb as MARQUEE MOON. No longer sells real ale.
N16, RED LION (Stonegate//Frontier Pubs). No longer sells real ale, no sign of any handpumps.
N16, THREE CROWNS (Rose Pubs/Cornwall Project). No real ale.
SE6, LONDON & RYE (Wetherspoon). Closed 25 August 2024; assumed sold to a new operator.
SE10, CLOUD NINE (Signal Brewery). Closed, future uncertain.
SE11, COCK (Hamna Wakaf). No longer sells real ale, handpump removed.
SE16, KERNEL BREWERY ARCH 7 TAPROOM, Arch 7, Dockley Rd Ind Est. Taproom closed in August 2024 with the opening of Kernel’s new build replacement (the brewery remains in Arch 11).
SW1, BELGRAVIA (Grosvenor Estate). Renamed HOUSE BELGRAVIA. No longer sells real ale.
SW1, SPORTS BAR & GRILL VICTORIA (Network Rail/Stonegate). Closed, future uncertain.
SW6, WHOLE FOODS MARKET. Closed June 2024.
W1, LOOP (Stonegate). Closed, future uncertain
W11, DISTILLERY. Noted as closed and repossessed by landlord.
OUTER LONDON
CROYDON, MAN ON THE MOON (Wellington). No longer sells real ale.
CROYDON, ORCHARD (Stonegate). No longer sells real ale.
CROYDON, RANDALL TAVERN (Heineken). No longer sells real ale.
HAMPTON WICK, SWAN (Wellington/Shepherd Neame). Closed, lease available.
HAYES, FIVE RIVERS (Stonegate). Real ale discontinued some time ago.
ISLEWORTH, CASTLE (Punch). No longer serves real ale.
| OTHER CHANGES |
INNER LONDON
EC2, BROADLEAF (ETM Group). Renamed BROADWOOD and branded as Sports London.
EC2, CHRISTINA’S. Renamed COMMONS CLUB.
E1, GUN (Heineken UK/East London Pub Company. Now operated by Urban Pubs & Bars following East London Pub Company going into administration.
E8, CROWN (True Pubs). Renamed CROWN & HALF CROWN.
E14, DOCTOR KLUGER’S OLDE TOWNE TAVERN. Renamed BREAKFAST PUB.
E14, LOWBACK (Hawksmoor). Renamed WOOD WHARF. The Lowback has now merged with the main restaurant.
N10, VICTORIA STAKES (Tavern Property Co), Now operated by Mosaic Pub and Dining.
N13, BIRD IN HAND (Stonegate). Renamed BIRD (RESTAURANT & LOUNGE) c.2020.
N13, WOODMAN (Marston’s), Bought by Heartwood Inns, refurbishment to follow.
N20, THREE HORSESHOES (Stonegate/Old Spot Pub Co). Now a Craft Union pub.
N21, WINCHMORE HILL CRICKET CLUB. Renamed WINCHMORE HILL SPORTS CLUB. Real ale available:-Wainwright Amber, Wainwright Gold and Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA.
NW6, EARL OF DERBY (Mitchells & Butlers/Castle). Renamed EARL DERBY and now part of M&B’s High Street brand.
SE8, STOCKTON. Renamed JAZU.
SE22, HERNE TAVERN (Heineken). Lease taken over by Urban Pubs & Bars.
SW1, COLONIES (Greene King). Reverted to PINEAPPLE.
SW3, SURPRISE (Cadogan/JEG Inns). Now operated by Wren Pubs.
SW4, SAXON (East London Pub Co). Following demise of East London Pub Company, now under the same ownership as the Rose & Crown in Clapham (Polygon Pub Company).
SW6, GEORGE & DRAGON. Renamed BARNABY’S LOUNGE & BAR.
SW8, CAVENDISH ARMS (Stonegate). Renamed CAV.
SW9, FRIENDSHIP ADVENTURE BREWERY & TAPROOM. Renamed SUPERCUTE BREWHOUSE & TAPROOM.
SW17, MANOR (M&B). Reverted to TOOTING TAVERN and now an M&B managed pub.
W1, FINERY (Greene King). Renamed NEW EXPLORER after refurb.
W1, HANKIES AT PICCADILLY WEST END HOTEL. Renamed HANKIES AT MONTCALM PICCADILLY TOWNHOUSE.
W6, CARPENTER’S ARMS (Stonegate). Operated from summer 2024 by Wren Pubs.
W11, WALMER CASTLE (M&B). A third pub now operated by Wren Pubs.
OUTER LONDON
CROYDON, FORESTDALE ARMS (Trust Inns). Reopened by butchers Bashford & Co. in July 2024 as The KINGSMEN after a year or more of unreported closure.
CROYDON, PLOUGH (Young’s), Croydon Rd. Sold to McLean Inns.