A rather quiet period for new pub openings, despite it covering the run up to Christmas, since Wetherspoons now seem to be concentrating on the provinces. Two more Bass run "All Bar Ones" have appeared in WC2 Leicester Square and NW8 St Johns Wood and the latest Regent Inns Free House opened in SE13 Lewisham in early January. A new Davys establishment, complete with pewter tankards, has opened at E14 Canary Wharf. Some genuine Irish run Free Houses have opened in NW and W London albeit without real ale and pseudo-Irish conversions continue to appear including the latest from Greene King in SE1 Lambeth. Two CAMRA London stalwarts have taken over a Free House in Brentford.

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, 3rd 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

W1 (Mar), STIR CRAZY, 120-122 Marylebone Lane. No real ale. New S&N hybrid bar and Mongolian stir-fry restaurant badged as a William Younger pub. Opened in summer 1995 in former commercial premises.

WC2, ALL BAR ONE, 48 Leicester Square. Adnams: Bitter. Bass. Hancock: HB. New Bass owned cafe-bar opened Dec 1995 in former commercial premises. Decorated in typical "All Bar One" style with light pine floors and furniture and metal handrails. Emphasis on food and wine with conveyor track above bar delivering food orders to the kitchen. Newspapers and board games available. Gold pump clips reflect price of beers - £2.30 a pint! Open all permitted hours.

EAST

El, BLACK BULL, 199 Whitechapel Road. Three Changing guest beers from small and family breweries. (E61)

E2, BRITISH LION, 193 Hackney Road. Whitbread: Pompey Royal. (E79)

E2, CARPENTERS ARMS, 73 Cheshire Street. Flowers: IPA. Fuller: London Pride. Whitbread: WCPA. Whitbread beers not always available. (E79)

E2, PENNY FARTHING, 3 Kingsland Road. Reopened and reverted to SPREAD EAGLE, still fizz. (E83, U75, U99)

E2, SHIP & BLUE BALL, 13 Boundary Street. Boddington: Bitter. Flowers: IPA. Reopened as a Free House, ex Pitfield. Opens 4pm Mon-Fri, 12 noon Sat, 1pm Sun until late. (E85, U108)

E3, LORD PALMERSTON, 45 Hewlett Road. Bass. (E91)

E9, ALEXANDRA, 162 Victoria Park Road. Reopened. still fizz, H unused. (E119, U108)

E10, ANTELOPE, 201 Church Road. Tetley: Bitter. (E123) E10, PRINCE OF WALES, 777 High Road.Fullen London Pride. (E125)

E14, DAVYS, 31-35 Fisherinans Walk. Cabot Square. Canary Wharf. Davys: Ordinary Bitter. Old Wallop (believed to be Courage: Best Bitter and Directors Bitter respectively). Latest Davys Free House, opened Nov 1995 and attempting to recreate a city wine bar image on the ground floor of a Canary Wharf office block. Overlooks dock. Stone flagged floors, sawdust. chandeliers and dark wood fittings. Separate bar and dining areas. Emphasis on food and wine. Beer sold in pewter tankards. Open 11.30-9.30 Mon-Fri, closed weekends.

E14, QUEEN, 571 Manchester Road. Renamed QUEEN OF THE ISLE. Marston: Pedigree. Whitbread: Best Bitter. Now a Fox Taverns Free House, ex Taylor Walker. (E147, U70)

BARKING, VVESTBURY ARMS, 174 Ripple Road. Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. Beware nitrokeg John Smith's. Reinstatement. (X14, U71, U90)

NORTH

N11, BONKAZ, 230 Woodhouse Road. No real ale. New Free House, shop conversion.

N20, GRIFFIN (SCRUFFY MURPHYS), 1262 High Road. Tetley: Bitter. Welcome reinstatement of real ale in this Irish themed pub. (N147)

NORTH WEST

NW8, CAFE GIOCONDA, 60 St Johns Wood High Street. Renamed ALL BAR ONE. Adnams: Bitter. Bass. Hancock: HB. Latest Bass run cafe-bar decorated in typical style (for details see WC2 above). Cafe Gioconda was omitted in error from N guide. (U109)

HARROW WEALD, ALMA, 463 High Road. Renamed PICKLED NEWT (THE ALMA). Bass. Bass: Toby Cask (cheap). Courage: Directors Bitter. Greene King: IPA. Redecorated in typical Magic style. (W114, U68, U98)

STANMORE, MALTHOUSE, 7 Stanmore Hill. Boddington: Bitter. Three Changing guest beers - currently Everard: Tiger, Marston: Pedigree, and Shepherd Neame: Spitfire. Independent Free House open at least a year but not previously reported. Formerly named BOWLERS BALL BAG, originally restaurant premises. Decorated in spartan style with bare boards and collections of (empty) bottles and bar towels on display. Flags bedeck the ceiling. Has own newsletter "Sid James News".

WEALDSTONE, O'SULLIVANS, 6 High Street. No real ale. New Irish Free House in former shop premises.

SOUTH EAST

SE13, QUAGGY DUCK, 139-141 Lewisham High Street. Adnams: Bitter. Bass, Boddington: Bitter. Brakspear: Bitter. Quaggy: Best Bitter (believed to be Hancock: HB). Latest Regent Inns Free House in former shop unit opened in early January 1996. Name chosen after competition at CAMRA Catford Beer Festival last year and refers to the River Quaggy one of the Thames' hidden tributaries which flows through Lewisham. Polished light wooden floor and comfortable furnishing at the front leading through to high ceilinged bar area at rear overlooked by balconied sitting area. Old photos of Lewisham and numerous pictures and cartoons of ducks decorate the walls. Food available until 9.30pm. Open all permitted hours.

SOUTH WEST

SW1(SJ), CROWN PASSAGE VAULTS, 20 King Street. Davys: Old Wallop (believed to be Courage: Directors Bitter). Basement bar, part of Davys Free House chain with entrance off Crown Passage. Decorated in typical style with sawdust strewn, stone flagged floors, dark wood fittings, bottle racks etc. Emphasis on food and wine with beer sold in pewter tankards. Open 1130-9.00 Mon-Fri, closed weekends.

SW2, TELEGRAPH, 228 Brixton Hill. Younger: Scotch Bitter. (SWI9, U39, U108)

WEST

GREENFORD, EMERALDS, 1211 Greenford Road. No real ale. New Irish Free House in former shop premises.

PUBS CLOSED OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE

CENTRAL

WC1, QUEENS HEAD, 66 Acton Street. Charrington, closed, future uncertain. (W50, U53, N29)

EAST

El, ARKWRIGHTS. Free House (Ascot), converted to shop. Formerly ANCHOR & HOPE. (E60, U83, U99)

El, LOCATION. Free House, converted to Thai restaurant. (E69)

E2, FLYING SCUD. Grand Met (Truman) (fizz), closed for sale. (E80)

E2, PRINCE OF WALES, 59 Barnet Grove. Free House, still closed. Current use, if any, unclear. (E84, U59)

E2, PRINCE OF WALES, 76 Bishops Way. Wells. No real ale. (E84, U89)

E2, TITLES. Grand Met (Courage) nitespot now closed. For-merly OLD BASING HOUSE. (E83, U80, U92)

E2, WEYMOUTH ARMS. Grand Met (Watney) (fizz) closed. (E86)

E3, ELEANOR ARMS. Shepherd Neame. No real ale. (E90, U75)

E3, LORD MORPETH. Whitbread. No real ale. (E91, U75) E9, ROYAL HOTEL. Belhaven, closed, future uncertain. (E122)

E9, WHITE LION. Grand Met (Truman), closed for sale. (E122)

E15, CANTEEN. Free House, converted to youth club. (E152, U85)

E15, TWO BREWERS. Wiltshire, closed. (E155, U71, U85) ILFORD, HOPE REVIVED. Renamed Mr. Q's. Taylor Walker, H removed. N(X63, U72)

NORTH

N11, ARNOS ARMS. Charrington, H unused. (N107)

N11, KITES CAFE BAR AT THE TURRETS. Grand Met (Courage), H removed. (N107, U109)

ENFIELD WEST (EN2), HOLLYBUSH. Whitbread, H removed, nitrokeg only. (N235)

ENFIELD WEST (EN2), SIX BELLS. Whitbread, H unused (N237)

SOUTH EAST

SE17, SURREY GARDEN ARMS, 9 Chapter Road. Grand Met (Courage). No longer a pub but no indication of current use. (SE160)

SOUTH WEST

SW7, KING GEORGE IV. Whitbread, closed and boarded up. All signage removed. (SW31)

KINGSTON, SEAMUS O'DONNELLS. Free House, H removed. Formerly WATERS EDGE WINE BAR, originally PUNTERS. (SW66, U36, U71, U108)

WEST

SOUTHALL, PIG & WHISTLE. Renamed McGINTYS. Now an Irish Free House, ex Grand Met (Truman). H removed. Formerly GREENFORD. (W142, U50)

OTHER CHANGES TO PUBS & BEER RANGES

CENTRAL

EC2, OLD MONK. Address is 128 Bishopsgate but street sign near entrance shows Hounsditch. (U102)

EC3, BUNCH OF GRAPES. -Charrington: IPA. +Hancock: HB. +Wadworth: 6X. Although main sign now reads GRAPES. pub sign and internal advertising still read BUNCH OF GRAPES. (E39)

EC3, CLANGER. Renamed DRUM & MONKEY. -Beers listed except Bass. +Caledonian: 80/- (labelled 'That'). +Deuchars: IPA. +Morland: Old Speckled Hen. Dark wood interior. 19th Century cartoons adom walls. First floor grill room. Expensive -£2.20 a pint. (E39, U82)

EC4, MASTER GUNNER. +Young: Ram Rod, Winter Warmer. (E51, U67)

W1(F), CAMBRIDGE. -Beers listed. +Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. (W28, U52, U106)

W1 (Mar), BLACK HORSE. -Bass. +Fuller: London Pride. (W33, U44. U67, U72, U89, U98)

W1 (Mar), WORCESTER ARMS. -Beers listed except Brakspear: Bitter. +Adnams: Bitter. +Theakston: XB. +Young: Special. (W36, U54)

W1 (May), BRUTONS. -Beers listed. +Courage: Directors Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter. (W38. U92, U100)

EAST

E1, BLACK HORSE, 40 Leman Street. Now a Free House, ex Grand Met (Courage). (E61)

E1, DUKE OF NORFOLK. -Greene King: IPA. +Flowers: IPA. +Tetley: Bitter. (E65)

E1, GOOD SAMS. Reverted to GOOD SAMARITAN. (E66, U106)

E1, KINGS ARMS, 514 Commercial Road. Now subtitled MONTYS, still fizz. (E68)

E6, DUKES HEAD. -Beers listed. +Ruddle: Best Bitter. +Guest beer. (E104, U71, U81)

E6, HAMMERS. +Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. (E104)

E14, HOPE & ANCHOR. Still retains name, not renamed as indicated in E guide. (E146)

E17, BELL. -Beers listed. +Courage: Best Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. (E165, U106)

E17, COUPLES. Now a Free House, restaurant and bar, ex Charrington. Formerly SPORTSMAN. (E168, U92, U97)

NORTH

N11, BANKERS DRAFT. -Theakston: XB. +Guest beer at all times. (N107)

N11, GROVE. Renamed BIG HAND MO'S. -John Smith: Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. Refurbished into an American baseball theme music and TV bar. Pool tables at rear. (N107, U106)

N11, RANELAGH. +Adnams: Bitter. +Ind Coope: Burton Ale. (N109)

N12, PAGES BAR. Renamed O'NEILL'S. Now an Irish theme pub, still fizz. (N111)

N12, TRIUMPH. -Flowers: IPA. (N112)

BARNET (ENS), MITRE INN (YE OLDE). +Samuel Allsop: Stout. (N251)

NORTH WEST

NW3, KING OF BOHEMIA. +Flowers: IPA. +Scrumpy Jack: Old Hazy. (N187)

NW3, THREE HORSESHOES. +Guest beers. (N190)

NW4, GREYHOUND. +Usher: Seasonal guest beer. (N193) SUDBURY, SWAN. +Fuller: London Pride. +Young: Special. (W146)

SOUTH EAST

SE1, THREE STAGS. Renamed BRENDAN O'GRADY'S. Converted by Greene King into a pseudo-Irish theme pub but retaining real ale. (SE36)

SE19, QUEENS ARMS. Renamed ORANGE KIPPER. -John Smith: Bitter. +Bass. +Boddington: Bitter. +Brakspear: Bitter. +Courage: Directors Bitter. +Flowers: IPA. +Wadworth: 6X. +Webster: Green Label. Is a Magic Pub Co "Free House". (SE180, U102)

SE26, DOLPHIN. Renamed FERRET & TROUSER LEG. -Beers listed. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB, Old Peculier. Refurbished. Now open for breakfast from 8am. Food. Newspapers. (SE222. U107)

SOUTH WEST

SW13, ROSE OF DENMARK. -Beers listed except guest beer. +Brakspear: Bitter. (SW53, U51. U101)

KINGSTON, APPLE MARKET INN. Renamed O'NEILL'S. -Charrington: IPA. +Worthington: Best Bitter. Converted to pseudo-Irish theme pub complete with fake shop. (SW64)

KINGSTON, SIR ROBERT PEEL. -Charrington: IPA. +Wen-locks: IPA. (SW66)

WEST

W5, FEATHERS. Renamed TOWN HOUSE. (W72, U96)

W5, THREE PIGEONS. Renamed RAT & PARROT. -Beers listed. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. (W73, U46, U107)

W7, ROYAL. -Courage: Best Bitter. +Stones: Best Bitter. +Worthington: Best Bitter. +Bass special beers. Harvester Restaurant name now prominent. Now Bass, ex Courage via Trust House Forte. (W79, U63, U67)

W13, CAPTAIN WOODUCKS. Renamed T J DUFFYS. -Young: Special. +Adnams: Bitter. +Bass. +Fuller: London Pride. (W92, U57)

BRENTFORD, BRICKLAYERS ARMS. -Wadworth: 6X +Fuller: London Pride.(W97, U53, U62)

BRENTFORD, MAGPIE & CROWN. Now a Free House run by two CAMRA stalwarts. -Beers listed. +Changing range of guest beers from small and family brewers. (W98, U79, U83)

HOUNSLOW, BELL. -Beers listed except Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. +Marston: Pedigree. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. Now extensively refurbished by S&N and badged as a "John Barras & Co" pub. (W126, U52, U80, U95, U99, U107)