This month we welcome three brand new pubs including the latest Firkin brewpub in WC2 Shaftesbury Avenue and a Whitbread Hogshead in N7 Holloway, and two major rehabilitations including a regent Inns Free House conversion in Hounslow and a Whitbread “Brewers Fayre” in E4 Chigwell. Three former Free Houses have been acquired by Hall & Woodhouse in SW and W London. One of the three London Tap & Spiles has been sold. More “silly names” are being applied to Magic Pub Co pubs. A new hoppy beer — Fullers IPA — is making a welcome appearance in Fullers pubs. Amendments and updates to the new guide covering the SE postal districts will appear next month.

The numbers in brackets after each entry refer to the page number in the following guides: E — East London & City Beer Guide, 3rd edition; K — “Real Ale Drinkers Guide to Kent Pubs’, 8th edition; N — North London Beer Guide, 2nd edition; SE — South East London Pub Guide, 3rd edition: SW — Real Beer in South West London; W — Real Beer in West London; X — Essex Beer Guide, 8th edition. U refers to earlier updates. # indicates a guest beer.

NEW & REOPENED PUBS & PUBS CONVERTED TO REAL ALE

CENTRAL

W1(S), PITCHER & PIANO, 69-70 Dean Street. Courage: Directors Bitter. John Smith: Bitter. New Free House/cafe bar in former restaurant premises. Large open plan ground floor bar with side area and upstairs bar in light pine decor. A grand piano completes the scene. Emphasis on wine, cocktails and food. Expensive. Closed Sundays.

WC1, LA BODEGA WINE BAR, 91-93 Grays Inn Road. No real ale. New Free House/wine bar in former commercial premises.

WC2, FLYMAN & FIRKIN, 166-170 Shaftesbury Avenue. Firkin: Full Mash Mild (3.4%). Critic"Ale (3.5%), Flyman Bitter (4.3%). Golden Glory (4.6%), Dogbolter (5.6%). Guest beers from Brewers Dray. Weston: Cider. Latest Taylor Walker "Firkin" pub and brewery created in former hairdressing supply premises. The front bar area opens out into a large rear seating area with barrel tables, red phone box and overlooked on high by a model of a flyman — the person who moves scenery. backdrops, props etc in the theatre — 2.000 are employed in the West End. Brewery and theatre related pictures adorn the walls. The brewery can be viewed through windows from the bar area. House beers kept under atmospheric pressure in tanks: Mild and Golden Glory imported in casks from the Falcon & Firkin, E9. Piano and live music some evenings. Food. Disabled WC. Open 11.30-11 Mon-Sat. 12-3 Sun. closed Sun evenings.

EAST

E2, DUKE OF YORK, 65 Ellsworth Street. Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. (E80)

E4, ROYAL FOREST HOTEL, Rangers Road. Now simply ROYAL FOREST. Boddington: Bitter. Brakspear: Bitter. Flowers: IPA. Wadworth: 6X. Wethered: Bitter. Young: Special. Beers may vary within Whitbread range. Spacious ex Free House acquired and extensively refurbished by Whitbread as part of "Brewers Fayre" chain. Emphasis on food, families welcome. Indoor and outdoor children's play areas. Open all permitted hours. (E97, U99)

NORTH

N7, HOGSHEAD, 385 Holloway Road. Boddington: Bitter. Flowers: Original Bitter. Fuller: London Pride. Hook Norton: Old Hooky. Morland: Old Speckled Hen. Smiles: Best Bitter. Tim 'Taylor: Landlord. Theakston: Old Peculier. Wadworth: 6X. Note: 6/7 beers rotate. Bulmer: Old Rectory Cider. New Whitbread pub opened in late 1994 at base of University of North London students' accommodation block. Ale house theme with a large single island bar, bareboards, alcove seating and a large standing area. Open all permitted hours.

N11, PATTENS, 380 Bowes Road. No real ale. New Free House in former shop premises now closed (See under deletions below)

NORTH WEST

NW1, PRINCE GEORGE OF CUMBERLAND, 195 Albany Street. Young: Bitter, Special, Winter Warmer. Reopened Free House with cask beers exclusively from Youngs. (N 125. U52, U89)

NW1, UNICORN, 227 Camden Road. Renamed PICKLED NEWT (THE UNICORN). Bass. Boddington: Bitter. Webster: Green Label Bitter. Refurbished in typical Magic Pub Co style with comfortable furnishings and a plethora of pictures. Formerly BLITZ, originally BRECKNOCK ARMS. (N129, U89, U98)

WEST

W6, PRINCE OF WALES, 73 Dalling Road. Courage: Best Bitter. Directors Bitter. John Smith: Bitter. Reinstatement. (W76, U57, U92)

HOUNSLOW, PALIO, 113 High Street. Renamed NOBLE HALF. Bass. Brakspear: Bitter. Noble Half Ale (Hancock: HB). Wadworth: 6X. Guest beer. Former Taylor Walker cafe bar acquired by Regent Inns and reopened as a Free House. Still in cafe bar style with a large food menu. Previously MUSWELLS. originally ROYAL GEORGE. (W128, U90)

PUBS CLOSED OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE

CENTRAL

W1(S), CAIROS/BUTLERS BAR. CAIROS renamed CAIRO JACKS. BUTLERS BAR in basement closed (U53, U92)

EAST

E1, HEARTS OF OAK. Courage, closed, future uncertain. (E67, U73)

E1, KNAVE OF CLUBS. Taylor Walker, closed, future uncertain. (E69)

NORTH

N1, BUILDERS ARMS. Whitbread, closed, future uncertain. (N29)

N1, PIPE OF PORT. Free House, closed, future uncertain. Formerly CHAMPAGNE CHARLIES. (N29, U87, U89corr)

N11, PATTENS. Free House, closed, future uncertain. (U101 above)

SOUTH EAST

CROYDON, GRAIN & GRAPES. Free House, closed, future uncertain. Formerly WEST SIDE etc. (SE251, U52, U94, U99)

SOUTH WEST

SW9, ATLANTIC. Allied (Ind Coope), closed, future uncertain. (SW36)

WEST

ISLEWORTH, HARLEQUIN. Courage, closed, future uncertain. (W131, U54)

OTHER CHANGES TO PUBS & BEER RANGES

CENTRAL

W1(F), CLEVELAND. -Beers listed. +Courage: Best Bitter. +Morland: Old Speckled Hen. +Blackthorn: Cidermaster Cider. Now run by Corporate Catering, ex Grand Met (Watney). (W28, U74)

W1(F), JACK HORNER. -Fuller: Mr. Harry. +Fuller: IPA. (U99)

W1(F), MORTIMER ARMS. -Greene King: IPA. +Marston: Owd Rodger. (W32, U82, U98)

W1(May), BURLINGTON BERTIE. -Worthington: Best Bitter. +Hancock: HB. +Guest beer. (W38, U75, U90)

W1(May), HOG IN THE POUND. -Courage: Best Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. Now Scottish & Newcastle, ex Grand Met (Watney). (W39, U90)

W1(May), MARLBOROUGH HEAD. -Courage: Best Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter. Now Scottish & Newcastle. ex Grand Met (Watney). (W39, U90)

W1(S), CLACHAN. -Brakspear: Bitter. -Greene King: IPA. -Nicholson: Best Bitter. -Marston: Pedigree. +Bass. (W41, U80, U90)

W1(S), GLASSBLOWER. Now GLASS BLOWER (2 words). -Brakspear: Mild, Bitter, Special Bitter. -Greene King: IPA. -Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB, Old Peculier. Now Scottish & Newcastle, ex Grand Met (Chef & Brewer/free). (W42, U53, U90)

WC1, KINGS ARMS. -Charrington: IPA. +Adnams: Bitter. +Fuller: London Pride. +Guest beer. (N16)

WC1, ROYAL CONNAUGHT. Renamed WARDS OF HOLBORN. +Fuller: London Pride. +Worthington: Best Bitter. (N22)

WC2, GEORGE, 8 Great Queen Street. -Charrington: IPA. +Bass. +Fuller: London Pride. +Worthington: Best Bitter. (W54)

WC2, HERCULES PILLARS. +Boddington: Mild. +Flowers: IPA. +Whitbread: Fuggles Imperial IPA. Confirmed as a Free House, despite "Boddington" livery. (W54, U59, U69, U95)

WC2, KEMBLES HEAD. -Beers listed. +Courage: Directors Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. (W54, U51) WC2, NEWTON ARMS. -Taylor Walker: Best Bitter. -Young: Bitter. +Newton Bitter 0.3% -brewed by Trent Brewery Co). +Guest beer. (W55)

WC2, SUGAR LOAF. -Charrington: IPA. +Hancock: HB. (W56)

EAST

E1, IVORIES. Reverted to MOORINGS. (E68)

E1, SCARBOROUGH ARMS. -Beers listed. +Varying guest beers (eg Ridley ESX, Caledonian 80/-). Now a Free House, ex Charrington. (E72)

E2, DUNDEE ARMS. -Ind Coope: Burton Ale. +Tetley: Bitter. +Eldridge Pope: Dorchester Bitter (£1.20 a pint). Refurbished. (E80)

E10, TAP & SPILE. Renamed BOOTLACES. -Beers listed. +Bass. +Flowers: IPA. +Tetley: Bitter. Regrettably no longer part of Tap & Spile chain (E125, U73)

E11, CLUTTERBUCKS. -Mansfield: Old Baily. -Guest beers. (U90)

E17, ROYAL STANDARD. Now simply STANDARD (THE). (E168)

NORTH

N1, EARL OF RADNOR. +Fuller: IPA. Formerly RADNOR ARMS. (N46, U53)

N2, CLISSOLD ARMS. +Brakspear: Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. +Wadworth: 6X. Grand Met (Courage) pub, leased and recently refurbished by Regent Inns. (N47)

N2, MANOR COTTAGE. Renamed HUNGRY HORSE (MANOR COTTAGE). (N49, U77, U98)

N4, SILVER BULLET. Renamed MULDOONS. (N52, U88) N7, HERCULES. -Beers listed. +Theakston: XB. +2 Guest beers (eg Adnams, Wells). Now S&N, ex Grand Met (Watney) and refurbished with a "Barras & Company" Ale House theme. (N65)

N8, MAYNARD ARMS. Renamed HUNGRY HORSE (THE MAYNARD). (N71, U98)

NORTH WEST

NW6, OLD BLACK LION. Renamed RAT & CARROT (BLACK LION). -Courage: Directors Bitter. +Bass. +Boddington: Bitter. Refurbished in typical "Carrot" style with low lighting and a plethora of pictures etc. (N148, U98)

NW6, RAILWAY. Renamed RAT & PARROT. -Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. +Courage: Directors Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. Refurbished in typical "Parrot" style with tiled bar area, polished floor boards etc. (N149)

NW6, ARKWRIGHTS WHEEL. -Beers listed except Marston: Pedigree and Tetley: Bitter. +2 Changing guest beers. (U56)

SOUTH EAST

CROYDON, PROPELLER. Renamed HUNGRY HORSE. (SE248, U55, U98)

SOUTH WEST

SW1(B), GROUSE & CLARET. -Greene King: IPA. -Young: Special. +Hall & Woodhouse: Badger Best Bitter, Tanglefoot. +Smiles: Best Bitter. +Wells: Eagle IPA. Now Hall & Woodhouse owned, ex Regent Inns but still operated as a "Free House". Formerly PIG & WHISTLE. (SW11, U31, U95)

SW1(P), FOUNTAIN. Renamed TUT'N'SHIVE. -Beers listed. +Boddington: Bitter (H). +Morland: Old Speckled Hen (G). +Whitbread: Fuggles Imperial IPA (G). +Whitbread: WCPA (H). Beers may vary. Beware Addlestone Cider on (H). Decorated with a variety of traffic signs including traffic lights (SW15, U38)

SW1(W), PAVIOURS ARMS. +Fuller: IPA. (SW17, U33, U99)

SW2, DUKE OF CORNWALL. -Beers listed. +Ruddle: Best Bitter. (SW19, U39, U62)

SW2, EFFRA HALL TAVERN. -Courage: Best Bitter. Webster: Green Label Bitter. +Young: Bitter. (SW 19) SW3, BLENHEIM. + Hall & Woodhouse: Tanglefoot. + Smiles: Best Bitter. Now a Free House owned by Hall & Woodhouse. (SW21, U63, U98)

SW3, ROSE. +Fuller: IPA. (SW23, U31, U80)

SW4, OXFORD ARMS. Renamed AULD TRIANGLE. (SW24) SW7, ANGLESEA ARMS. -Greene King: Abbot Ale. +Freeminer: Bitter. (SW31, U61, U72, U73, U83, U91)

SW13, ROSE OF DENMARK. +Guest beer. (SW43, U51)

WEST

W2, MONKEY PUZZLE. -Beers listed. +Gribble: Black Adder II. +Hall & Woodhouse: Badger Best Bitter, Tanglefoot. +Smiles: Best Bitter. +Wadworth: 6X. +Wells: Eagle IPA. Now Hall & Woodhouse owned, ex Regent Inns, still operated as a "Free House". (W62, U67)

W2, TAVISTOCKS (WINE & ALE HOUSE). Reverted to FOUNTAINS ABBEY. -Beers listed. +Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB, Old Peculier. +Three varying guest beers. +Bottled Belgian & German beers. Now an S&N "T&J Bernard" pub. ex Grand Met (Watney). (W63, U51)

W4, GEORGE IV. -Fuller Hock. ESB. +Fuller IPA (W69, U53, U99)

W4, WINDMILL. +Boddington: Bitter. +Brakspear: Bitter. +Flowers: IPA. +Windmill Bitter (3.6%. probably Hancock: HB). Now a Regent Inns Free House, ex Fullers. (W69, U92)

W6, HOP POLES. -Beers listed. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB, Old Peculier. +Younger: IPA. Now Scottish & Newcastle, ex Grand Met (Watney). (W76, U72, U74, U95)

W6, SALUTATION. -Fuller: Hock. +Fuller: IPA. (W77, U72, U92)

W14, RADNOR ARMS. -Everard: Old Original. +Everard: Mild. +Shepherd Neame: Bishops Finger. (W94, U71)

BRENTFORD, ALBANY ARMS. -Beers listed. +Ansell: Bitter. +Bass. +Fuller: London Pride. +Young: Bitter. (W97)

BRENTFORD, WATERMANS (Arts Centre). -Fuller: ESB. +Boddington: Bitter. +Guest beer. (W99)

BRENTFORD, WATERMANS ARMS. +Fuller: London Pride. (W99, U72, U79, U98)

HAMPTON, COURT JESTER. -Charrington: IPA. -Morland: Old Speckled Hen. +Wadworth: 6X. +Worthington: Best Bitter. Now a Labatts Free House, ex Charrington. (W103, U91)

HAMPTON, DUKES HEAD. -Courage: Best Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. +Morland: Old Speckled Hen. (W103, U91)

HAMPTON, JOLLY COOPERS. -Beers listed. +Boddington: Bitter. +Flowers: Original Bitter. +Ind Coope: Burton Ale. +Tetley: Bitter. +Young: Bitter. (W103, U57)

HAMPTON HILL, WINDMILL. -Worthington: Best Bitter. (W106, U77)

HANWORTH, OXFORD ARMS. -Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. +Flowers: IPA. +Ruddle: Best Bitter. (W108)

HANWORTH, NEW MOON. +Fuller: Chiswick Bitter. (W108)

HANWORTH, SWAN. -Ruddle: Best Bitter, County. +Courage: Best Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. +Young: Bitter. Range may vary. (W108)

HOUNSLOW, EARL RUSSELL. -Fuller: Chiswick Bitter. (W126, U89)

HOUNSLOW, FRIEND IN HAND. -John Smith: Bitter. -Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. +Fuller: London Pride. +Webster: Green Label Bitter. Now a Delaney's Free House, ex Grand Met (Courage). (W126, U62, U63, U77, U82, U91, U99)

HOUNSLOW, HUNGRY HORSE (WELLINGTONS). Reverted to DUKE OF WELLINGTON. (W126, U91, U98, U99)

HOUNSLOW, LORD CLYDE. -Morland: Old Speckled Hen. +Morland: Tanners Jack. (W128, U79, U99)

HOUNSLOW, ROYAL ALBION. -Beers listed. -Taunton: Cider. +Greene King: Rayments Special Bitter. Now a Free House, ex Grand Met (Courage). (W128, U57, U81)

HOUNSLOW, WINDMILL. -Morland: Old Speckled Hen. +Morland: Tanners Jack. (W128, U71, U77, U82, U95, U99)

ISLEWORTH, BRIDGE INN. -Courage: Best Bitter. -Hall & Woodhouse: Badger Best Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. +Wadworth: 6X. Formerly IRON BRIDGE. (W131, U60, U81, U89, U99)

ISLEWORTH, RED LION. -Courage: Directors Bitter. +Guest beer (eg Smiles). (W131, U60, U62)

ISLEWORTH, VICTORIA. -Eldridge Pope: Hardy Country Bitter. +Ansell: Mild. +Courage: Best Bitter. +Ind Coope: Burton Ale. (W131, U95)

TEDDINGTON, ANGLERS HOTEL. +Guest beer. (W146, U94) TEDDINGTON, KINGS ARMS. -Morland: Old Speckled Hen. -Young: Special. +Courage: Directors Bitter. Now a Delaney's Free House, ex Grand Met (Watney) (W147, U57, U94)

TEDDINGTON, MASONS ARMS. -Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. (W147, U94)

TEDDINGTON, TIDE END COTTAGE. -Beers listed. +Bass. +Boddington: Bitter. +Webster: Green Label Bitter. (W147, U94, U98)

TEDDINGTON, WALDEGRAVE ARMS. -Beers listed. +Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. +Bulmer: Traditional Cider. +Two guest beers. +Bottled Belgian & German beers. Now an S&N "T&J Bernard" badged pub, ex Grand Met (Watney). (W147)

TWICKENHAM, COCK & BULL. Now a Wessex taverns Free House, ex Grand Met (Watney). Formerly JOLLY BLACKSMITH. (W150, U44, U57)

WHITTON, WHITE HART. -Adnams: Bitter. -Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. +Marston: Pedigree. (W162, U56, U69)