This month we record the opening 612 brand new Whitbread 'Brewers Fayre' pubs in Beckton E16 and Mitcham, a rebuilt Youngs pub in the City and a new Charrington pub in W5 Ealing. The Orange Brewery brewpub in SW1 has been refurbished by its new owners Scottish & Newcastle and thankfully retains its brewery. Greene King have bought the Richmond pub which reverted to Youngs last year after 20 years with Charringtons. Two more Wychwood run pubs have been discovered in Hayes and Hillingdon.

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, 4th edition: 3SE — 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

EC2, CITY HOUSE, 86 Bishopsgate. Young: Bitter. Reopened following a complete rebuild after the 1993 bombing. The opportunity has been taken to incorporate a cellar, hence the only Youngs pub previously without real ale has now been converted. Note correct beer (contrary to last London Drinker's news item). (U67, U89)

EAST

E16, WINSOR HOUSE, Woolwich Manor Way. Boddington: Bitter. Flowers: Original Bitter. Morland: Old Speckled Hen. Young: Special. Large new single storey Whitbread Brewers Fayre 'family' pub attached to 'Travel Inn' hotel opened in March 1995. Red brick and rustic wooden style interior with ethnic carpets on floor and in roof space. Separate areas given over predominantly to eating with a small bar area. Children's play areas inside and outside. Disabled WC. Large car park with access off Winsor Terrace. Adjacent to Beckton terminus station of the Docklands Light Railway. Contrary to blackboard, drinks can be obtained without food 'at the discretion of the staff!' Open all permitted hours and Sunday afternoon for diners.

ALDBOROUGH HATCH, DICK TURPIN, Aldborough Road North. Boddington: Bitter. Flowers: Original Bitter. Now a Whitbread 'Beefeater' currently undergoing refurbishment. (X11, U73)

BARKING, WHITE HORSE, London Road. Renamed PICKLED NEWT (WHITE HORSE). Bass. Boddington: Bitter. Webster: Green Label. Reinstatement. (X14, U82, U98)

ILFORD, HAVELOCKS, Reverted to GENERAL HAVELOCK. Tetley: Bitter. Eldridge Pope: Royal Oak. Beers may vary.(X63)

RAINHAM, BERWICK MANOR, Berwick Pond Road. Webster: Green Label. Reopened as night club. (X84)

NORTH WEST

EDGWARE, SPARROWHAWK, Glengall Road. Renamed GLENGALL PARK. Boddington: Bitter. Flowers: Original Bitter. Now part of Whitbread 'Brewers Fayre' chain with predominantly food orientation. (N178, U33, U77)

SOUTH EAST

SE18, WELLESLEY, 39 Hilireach. Courage: Directors Bitter. (SE175)

BEXLEY, CAFE TAAX, 3 Mill Row, off High Street. No real ale. A Free House/cafe bar.

SOUTH WEST

MITCHAM, MILL HOUSE, Windmill Road. Boddington: Bitter. Flowers: Original Bitter. Morland: Old Speckled Hen. Whitbread: Best Bitter, Fuggles IPA. Beers may vary. Conversion and extension of formerly derelict mill house into new Whitbread 'Brewers Fayre' family pub, opened late1994. Decorated with bare bricks, mock wooden beams, carpets etc. Food orientated. Indoor and outdoor children's play areas. Disabled WC. Car park at rear. Open all permitted hours and Sunday afternoon for diners.

WEST

W5, FIDDLERS THREE, 28-30 New Broadway. Bass. Fuller: London Pride. Worthington: Best Bitter. New Charrington pub opened in 1994 in former music shop premises. Named after one of the more obscure films made at the nearby Ealing Studios in pre-BBC days. Polished dark wood interior with etched glass mirrors and carpeted floor. Raised eating area at rear. Outdoor drinking at front. Open all permitted hours.

HAYES, WELCOME INN, 9 Clayton Road. Courage: Best Bitter. Small comfortably furnished bar in former shop premises. Note full address. (U78)

PUBS CLOSED OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE

EAST

BARKING, BREWERY TAP. Renamed JAMES FIGG. H removed. (X12, U73, U87)

BARKING, RED LION. Taylor Walker. No real ale. (X13, U72, U84)

SOUTH EAST

SE8, NOBODYS INN. Free House, closed, future uncertain. Formerly ROUND THE BEND. (SE82, U102) SE10, MITRE, 338 Tunnel Avenue. Renamed DORRINGTONS. No real ale. Now a night club. (SE98)

OTHER CHANGES TO PUBS & BEER RANGES

EAST

ROMFORD, RUSH GREEN. Renamed BIG HEAD MO'S. (X87) WOODFORD GREEN, VIPER. Renamed DOUBLE L. (X114)

NORTH

N17, WHITE HART, Devonshire Hill Lane. -Wethered: Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. Now a Hetinelley Taverns Free House, ex Whitbread. (N98, U87)

BARNET, OLDE MONKEN HOLT (YE). -Courage: Best Bitter. +Greene King: IPA. +Marston: Pedigree. +Morland: Old Speckled Hen. Now an Old Monk Pub Co Free House, ex Grand Met (Courage). (N172)

SOUTH EAST

SE12, DUTCH HOUSE. -John Smith: Bitter. +Courage: Directors Bitter. Now a 'Harvester' badged pub. (SE113)

SE18, MANCINI'S. Reverted to GATEHOUSE, still fizz. (SE169)

BEXLEY, MILLERS ARMS. Now a Marr Taverns operated pub ex Charrington. (3SE210)

SOUTH WEST

SW1(B), ORANGE BREWERY. -Orange: Pimlico Light, Midsummer Mild, Ginger Beer. +Orange: Restoration Ale (4.5%) brewed to commemorate the reopening of the brewpub following refurbishment. Brewery in cellar can now be viewed from bar. Now S&N, ex Grand Met Chef & Brewer/Free. (SW10, U64)

SW6, WHITE HORSE. +Freedom: Fulham Golden Ale (1043 OG). Freedom PiIs in bottle (5.4%), brewed to German purity law standards, also available. Freedom products are from London's newest brewery based in Parsons Green Lane, Fulham opposite the pub. (SW31, U32, U66, U81, U82, U83, U92) (see U104)

NEW MALDEN, MALDEN MANOR. Renamed MANOR (THE). -Courage: Directors Bitter. +Flowers: IPA. Now a Labatts Free House ex Grand Met (Watney) via S&N. (SW70)

RICHMOND, CRICKETERS. -Young: Bitter, Special. +Greene King: IPA, Abbot Ale, Sorcerer. Acquired by Greene King from Youngs. (SW71, U95)

WEST

HAYES, ROYAL OAK. -Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. +Courage: Best Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. +Wychwood: Best Bitter (4.2%). Now run by Wychwood Brewery, ex Hennelley Taverns. Originally Grand Met (Watney) and still retaining tie. (W118, U78, U90)

HILLINGDON, HEATH TAVERN. -Ruddle: Best Bitter. +Wychwood: Shires Bitter (3.4%), Dr Thirsty's Draught (5.2%), Dogs Bollocks (6.5%) Now run by Wychwood Brewery, ex Hennelley Taverns. Originally Grand Met (Watney). (W123, U46)