This month we welcome Beard's first Greater London pub in Bromley and another Gibbs Mew pub in Brentford. Four brand new pubs are reported in north, west and south west London including the latest Yates's Wine Lodge, Scottish & Newcastle "Rat & Parrot" and Bass "O'Neills" creations, all of little interest from a beer point of view. Conversions include even more "Rat & Parrots, another "Edwards" from Bass and the latest non brewing "Firkin", with historic names being unceremoniously dumped in the interests of branding and theming.

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.

NEW & REOPENED PUBS & PUBS CONVERTED TO REAL ALE

NORTH WEST

HARROW, YATES'S WINE LODGE, 269-271 Station Road. Courage: Directors Bitter. Latest Yates's Free House opened in late February in former Woolworths premises. Decorated in typically flamboyant and decorative style. Ground floor bar and balcony bar with prominent disco console which generates deafening 'music' for the youth market in the evenings. This chain has become progressively more disappointing as further London pubs have opened. In this latest example there is only one real ale amongst a plethora of nitrokeg and fizz dispensers in complete contrast to pubs in its northern heartland. Food. Open all permitted hours.

SOUTH WEST

SW11, BARRINGTONS, 165-167 St. Johns Hill. Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. 1897 Ale (house beer, brewer unknown, 3.7%). New Free House operated by the Chelsea Brewery Co, opened in February 1997 in former shop premises. Plush and comfortable with only background music. The house beer is apparently brewed by an independent brewery for this pub and its namesake in Winchester. Both pubs are apparently named after the 7th Viscount Barrington (who he? Ed). Food until 10pm. Disabled access. Open all permitted hours.

SW16, O'NEILLS, 78A/78B Streatham High Road. No real ale. Latest Bass run pseudo Irish pub in garish blue and yellow colours in former pizza restaurant. Opened February 1997.

SUTTON, RAT & PARROT, 33/35 High Street. Courage: Best Bitter. Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. Latest addition to the S&N chain opened February 1997 in former furniture shop. Plush with a variety of drinking areas at different levels. No real ale in upstairs bar. Opens 8am for breakfast. Food. Open all permitted hours.

PUBS CLOSED OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE

SOUTH EAST

SE20, GOLDEN LION. Free House, numerous handpumps unused. This one time mecca of real ale no longer dispenses anything from its many handpumps. (SE188, U114)

OTHER CHANGES TO PUBS & BEER RANGES

CENTRAL

Wl(F), SHIP. Worthington: Best Bitter. +Boddington: Bitter. (W32)

Wl(S), DUKE OF WELLINGTON. Renamed RAT & PARROT. Marston: Pedigree. Theakston: Old Peculier. +Courage: DirectorsBitter. Opens 8am (10am weekends) for breakfast. (W42, U53, U74, U93)

EAST

ILFORD, ANGEL. Renamed O'NEILLS. Charrington: IPA. +Draught Bass. Now an Irish theme pub. (X63, U72)

NORTH WEST

HARROW, ROYAL OAK, 84/86 St. Anns Road. -Beers listed. +Courage: Best Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. Note correct address. (W113, U67, U106)

SOUTH EAST

SE22, FORESTERS ARMS. Now part of the Whitbread "Ale House" chain. (SE198)

SE22, LORD PALMERSTON. -Beers listed except Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. +Courage: Directors Bitter. +Fuller: London Pride, ESB. (SE200)

SE26, GREYHOUND. Renamed FEWTERER & FIRKIN. -Beers listed. +Firkin: London Mild (3.4%), Greyhound Ale (3.5%), Fewterer Ale (4.3%), Muzz Ale (5.0%), Dogbolter (5.6%). The usual Firkin decor inappropriately imposed on what had been a pub of character with some fine fittings, only some of which have survived. Beers are brewed at the Falcon & Firkin and Flag & Firkin brewpubs. A fewterer is apparently a greyhound trainer and the 'dog' theme predominates. Food. Open all permitted hours. (SE223, U114)

BECKENHAM, THREE TUNS. Renamed RAT & PARROT. John Smith: Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. Now part of the S&N "Rat & Parrot" chain. (3SE205, U53, K37, U107)

BROMLEY, ANGLESEY ARMS. +Shepherd Neame: Spitfire Ale. (3SE216, U70, U116)

BROMLEY, RED LION. -Beers listed. +Adnams: Broadside, +Arundel: Beards Best Bitter. +Harvey: Best Bitter. +2 Guest beers from small and provincial brewers. Acquired by Beards from Whitbread and tastefully refurbished. (3SE219, U59, K50)

SOUTH WEST

SW19, HORSE & GROOM, 131 Merton High Street. Renamed KILKENNY TAVERN. Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. +Ruddle: Best Bitter. Formerly DARK HOUSE. (SW55, U36, U59, U71, U92, U99)

WEST

W2, ORIENT EXPRESS. Renamed FORTUNE CORNER. Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. +Guest beer. Formerly GRAND JUNCTION ARMS. (W59, U80)

W12, BEAUMONT ARMS. Renamed EDWARDS. Worthington: Best Bitter. +Fuller: London Pride. Refurbished in cafe bar style with bare floorboards and an emphasis on food. Opens early for breakfasts and all permitted hours. (W91, U43, U57, U71)

W14, BARONS (ALE HOUSE). Renamed CURTAINS UP. -Beers listed. +Courage: Directors Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. Refurbished with a theatrical theme. Barons Court Theatre is upstairs. (W94, U107)

W14, RADNOR ARMS. -Beers listed except Everard: Tiger. +Everard: Beacon Bitter, Old Original. Now tenanted by Oak Taverns and run as an Everards pub following refurbishment. (W94, U71, U101)