This month we report the opening of six brand new pubs. These include three from Whitbread comprising a riverside pub in SE16 Rotherhithe, one each for Hogshead and Brewers Fayre in Romford, two All bar One's from Bass in EC4 St. Pauls and E14 Canary Wharf and a Surrey Free Inns pub in Kingston. More renamings are recorded including another pseudo-Irish conversion from Bass in W1 Mayfair.

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

EC4, ALL BAR ONE, 46-48 Ludgate Hill. Bass. Fuller: London Pride. The Bass owned "All Bar One" concept chain continues to expand with this new bar in former commercial premises under a city office block. Light and spacious with bare floor boards, long tables and benches. Emphasis on food with track above bar to convey orders displayed on large blackboard to kitchen. Aproned staff; "nuts and beans" from dispensers; newspapers and the Beano to peruse. Beer range has deteriorated compared with earlier bars. Over 21's only. Open 11.30-11 Mon-Fri, 12-7 Sat.

EAST

E14, ALL BAR ONE, 42 MacKenzie Walk, South Colonnade, Canary Wharf. Bass. Fuller: London Pride. The twin of the city outlet listed above, this large spacious ground floor bar is located at the base of one of the Canary Wharf office blocks and has a southerly aspect overlooking the dock. Judging by the number of wine bottles displayed behind the bar, the emphasis is on wine drinking although beer drinkers appear to predominate. All the usual attributes are present. Open 11.30-11 Mon-Fri, 12-6 Sat & Sun.

ROMFORD, HOGSHEAD, 113-117 South Street. Boddington: Bitter. Flowers: IPA, Original Bitter. Greene King: Abbot Ale. Wadworth: 6X. Whitbread: Abroad Cooper, Fuggles Imperial, seasonal beers. Young: Special. Guest beers (including Exmoor and Wychwood beers). Large dimly lit Whitbread Hogshead Ale House in former shop premises. Advertises up to 16 cask ales of which up to 8 guest beers are on gravity from casks behind the bar. Usual decor with wood panelled walls, polished wood floor, benches, bric-a-brac. mock fireplaces etc. Three raised areas are carpeted. Hops festoon the beams, pictures and photos cover the walls. Access to disabled WC. Food. Open all permitted hours.

ROMFORD, LIBERTY BELL, Mercury Gardens (junc. Western Road). Fuller: London Pride. Wadworth: 6X. Spacious new ground floor Whitbread Brewers Fayre pub attached to residential "Travel Inn" hotel. Emphasis on food with large eating areas and adjacent indoor children's play area. Comfortably furnished with raised carpeted drinking areas and tiled bar area. Exposed brick (of course), bric-a-brac, mock fireplace. Outdoor seating areas back and front. Open all permitted hours.

SOUTH EAST

SE9, CASTLE, 140 Eltham High Street. Renamed LAST ORDERS. Bass: Toby Cask. Shepherd Neame: Spitfire. Basic high street boozer. (SE86)

SE16, SPICE ISLAND, 163 Rotherhithe Street. Boddington: Bitter. Flowers: Original Bitter. Fuller: London Pride. Guest beers from the Whitbread range including the seasonal beer (currently Spring Hop Ale), Morland Old Speckled Hen, Wadworth 6X etc. Large new flower bedecked riverside Whitbread pub/restaurant located at entrance to old Surrey docks on the opposite side of the Thames to the "Prospect Of Whitby" pub in El. Opened in August 1995 but not previously reported. Brick built with an external timber balcony at first floor level reached by steps leading up from a large outdoor patio providing riverside views along the Thames and revealing the full extent of the riverside conversion from commercial to residential uses. The name reflects the area's former role as a centre for the spice trade and its former "Island Yard" name. The interior continues the "warehouse" theme with exposed brickwork, polished floors, cast iron look-a-like pillars and a wooden upper gallery housing a separate restaurant looking down over the bar area. Beers are all on swan neck dispense. Beware keg beers only in the upstairs restaurant. Adventurous menu including fresh fish and "adult" ice cream! Jazz on Sat and Sun evenings. Seafood stall in car park. Opens 11-11 Mon-Sat, 12-10.30 Sun, plus breakfast 9.30-12 Sat & Sun.

SOUTH WEST

SW11, HABERDASHERS ARMS, Eldridge Pope: Dorchester Bitter. (SW40, U71)

KINGSTON, LITTEN TREE, 28/30 Castle Street. Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. Litten Tree: Best Bitter. Worthington: Best Bitter. Young: Special. Guest beer changing monthly. Beware Scrumpy Jack keg cider on handpump. New Surrey Free Inns Free House in former shop premises. Comfortably furnished with wood nanellina and stained glass screens. "Library area" with settees is a no smoking area as is the bar itself. Quiet lunchtimes, music level increases in the evenings. DJs Tue, Thurs & Sat. Food 12-7. Disabled WC.

SURBITON, SAUCY KETTLE, 7/9 Brighton Road. Fuller: London Pride. Hancock: HB. Free House owned by operators of Kingston Mill in Kingston. (U105)

PUBS CLOSED OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE

SOUTH EAST

CROYDON, CARTOON. Free House, closed, future uncertain. (3SE237, U52, U55)

SOUTH WEST

SW8, LORD PALMERSTON. Grand Met (ex-Truman), now being converted into flats. (SW33, U51)

SW9, GRESHAM. Charrington, H removed. (SW36)

SW9, WHITE HART. Phoenix (ex-Truman). No real ale. (SW37, U50, U112)

SW11, BOLINGBROKE. Charrington, H unused (SW39, U62)

SW11; ORIGINAL WOODMAN. Grand Met (ex-Watney), H unused. (SW41)

KINGSTON, GRIFFIN. Grand Met (Courage), believed sold on to S&N and then Magic. Now converted to shopping mall. (SW66, U98)

OTHER CHANGES TO PUBS & BEER RANGES

CENTRAL

W1(May), CHESTERFIELD. Renamed O'NEILLS. -Beers listed except Bass. Converted to pseudo-Irish theme pub. Previously CHESTERFIELDS. (W38, U92)

SOUTH EAST

SE20, GOLDEN LION. -Beers listed. +Ruddle: Best Bitter. Real ale not always available. (SE188)

SE23, MALT SHOVEL. -Beers listed. +Festival Bitter (ABV 3.7%, brewed by Carlsberg-Tetley). +Worthington: Best Bitter. +Occasional guest beer. (SE205)

SE25, ALBERT TAVERN. Renamed PICKLED NEWT. -Webster: Green Label. +Bass: Toby Cask. +Courage: Best Bitter. Now one guest including micro brewery beers. (SE213, U102)

SE25, SHIP. -Beers listed except Boddington Bitter and Whitbread Pompey Royal. +Flowers: Original Bitter. +Whitbread: Best Bitter, seasonal beer. Now transferred from Whitbread Hogshead to Beer Engine chain. (SE218)

SE26, GREYHOUND. -Ind Coope: Burton Ale. (SE223)

SE26, RAILWAY. +Railway Bitter (house beer, ABV 3.3%, brewed at Burton on Trent). (SE224)

SOUTH WEST

SW3, CROWN. -Beers listed. +Boddington: Bitter. +Brakspear: Special Bitter. +Fuller: London Pride. +Greene King: Abbot Ale. +2 Guest beers. (SW21)

SW4, CROWN & ANCHOR. -Charrington: IPA. +Worthington: Best Bitter. (SW24, U60)

SW8, MAWBEY ARMS. +Shepherd Neame: Spitfire or seasonal beer. Cask breathers discontinued. Now a Free House, ex Shepherd Neame. (SW34, U43, U51, U54)

CHESSINGTON, HARROW. -Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. +Bass. +Hancock: HB. Now a Bass owned Harvester, ex Courage, via THF. (SW62)

SURBITON, RED LION. -Beers listed. +Bass. +Hancock: HB. Now a Bass owned Harvester, ex Courage, via THF. Formerly SULLIVANS. (SW75, U39)

SUTTON, CORNER HOUSE. +Flowers: Original Bitter. +Marston: Pedigree. Now Whitbread, ex Free House. Formerly GRAPES. (SW76, U98)

SUTTON, CROWN. -Charrington: IPA. +Fuller: London Pride. (SW76)

SUTTON, DOLPHIN. +John Smith: Bitter. +Wadworth: 6X. (SW76)

SUTTON, FIELDER & FIRKIN. +Occasional special beers, eg. Balls Ale, Helmet Stout. Formerly CRICKETERS. (SW76, U46, U98)

SUTTON, RED LION. -Beers listed. +Bass. +Boddington: Bitter. +Webster: Green Label. (SW76, U59, U98)

WORCESTER PARK, PLOUGH. -Courage: Best Bitter. +Hancock: HB. Now a Bass owned Harvester, ex Courage, via THF. (SW78, U70)