This month we welcome two new Wetherspoon pubs, one a former gym in E11 Leytonstone and the other a former Bass pub in SE16 Rotherhithe/Surrey Docks. Two new Whitbread Hogsheads have opened in N8 Crouch End and W4 Chiswick and a new Regent Inns pub has opened in SW12 Balham, all in former shops and commercial premises. Two "Goose & Granite" conversions have opened in WC1 Bloomsbury and SE22 East Dulwich with the consequent loss of historic pub names. A new Eldridge Pope bar has opened in the City. A number of Bass pubs in east London have been rebadged under the East London Pub Co name - a small chain of "community pubs", most of which have retained real ale.

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

EC3, BAR EXCELLENCE, 28 Cornhill. Draught Bass. Hardy: Country Bitter. New bar opened in April by Eldridge Pope in former Scottish Widows insurance building. Steps lead up into the ground floor bar area comfortably furnished with a high ceiling and polished tiled floor and carpeted areas. The emphasis is on food and wine, the latter prominently displayed in racks behind the bar. The two handpumps are currently unlabelled awaiting special clips to fit in with the aluminium nitrokeg and lager dispensers! Stairs lead downwards past a colourful painting of a wine map of the world to a basement bar with similar decor and a "wine cellar" alcove. The first in a proposed chain of bars with the same name. Opens 11-11 Mon-Fri only.

EAST

E2, BRITANNIA, 206 Globe Road. Renamed JUKE BOX. Courage: Best Bitter (£1.30 a pint). (E79)

E11, WALNUT TREE, 857-861 High Road. Courage: Directors Bitter. Fuller: London Pride. Theakston: Best Bitter (£1.10 a pint). Two guest beers. Weston: 1st Quality Draught Cider. Large new Wetherspoon corner Free House opened in late April in a former gym. Standard decor with no smoking/eating area at rear and raised seating area to side which opens out onto a patio for outdoor drinking. A metal sculpture of a walnut tree stands by the bar, local history panels and surrealist paintings adorn the walls and cabinets of dusty books are scattered around. The pub stands on land formerly part of the Cotton family estate whose home Walnut Tree House (later Leyton House) stood nearby. Captain Joseph Cotton, ex Royal Navy and East India Company had a son William, born in Leyton who became Director of the Bank of England. Note: Younger Scotch Bitter no longer available in new Wetherspoon pubs. Food. Disabled WC. Open all permitted hours.

NORTH

N8, HOGSHEAD, 33/35 Crouch End Hill. Adnams: Broadside. Boddington: Bitter. Brakspear: Bitter. Flowers: Original Bitter. Greene King: Abbot Ale. Marston: Pedigree. Morland: Old Speckled Hen. Whitbread: Abroad Cooper. Young: Special. Guest Beers (H) & (G). Scrumpy Jack: Old Hazy Cider. Guest Cider. New Whitbread pub in former funeral parlour premises opened in April. A total of 10 handpumps and 4 casks behind the bar for the guest beers. Beers will vary within the Whitbread range. Decorated in typical Hogshead style with bare brick walls, bare floors and flagstones at the bar. A variety of raised seating areas and screens create acomfortable atmosphere and the lack of canned music encourages conversation. Food. Disabled WC. Open all permitted hours.

SOUTH EAST

SE1, BUNTERS, 280 Borough High Street. Reopened and reverted to RED LION. Courage: Best Bitter. Still Inntrepreneur leased. (SE12, U102, U123)

SE16, WARRIOR, 185 Lower Road. Renamed SURREY DOCKS. Courage: Directors Bitter. Fuller: London Pride. Theakston: Best Bitter (£1.10 a pint). Guest beer. Weston: 1st Quality Draught Cider. Former Bass pub refurbished and reopened as Wetherspoon Free House. Main bar leads to no smoking seating/eating area at rear complete with dusty books. The name commemorates the proximity to Surrey Docks and panels and old photos explain the rich local history of the docks and Rotherhithe generally. A ship's compass stands guard next to the stairs leading to the upstairs toilets. Benches and tables at the front provide an enclosed outdoor drinking area. Food. Disabled WC. Open all permitted hours.

SOUTH WEST

SW4, TRAINSPOTTERS, 15/16 Lendal Terrace. No real ale. New Free House opened in March 1997 in railway arch.

SW12, ECLIPSE, 157 Balham High Road. Draught Bass. Brakspear: Bitter. Greene King: IPA. Hancock: HB. Young: Special. New Regent Inns Free House opened April 1997 in former shop premises almost opposite Wetherspoon's "Moon Under Water" (geddit!). Main bar has a combination of bare bricks, blue painted walls, carpeted and bare floorboard areas and a variety of seating. Leads through to a lower bar similarly furnished and up steps to an upper bar comfortably furnished with paintings of naked ladies but no real ale. TV for sporting events. Discounted 4-pint jugs of Hancock HB. Beers may vary. No smoking area at front. Upstairs bar can be hired for functions. Small garden at rear. Food. Disabled WC. Open all permitted hours.

WEST

W4, HOGSHEAD, 30-34 Chiswick High Road. Boddington: Bitter. Brakspear: Bitter. Flowers: IPA, Original Bitter. Fuller: London Pride. Greene King: IPA. Marston: Pedigree. Morland: Old Speckled Hen. Wadworth: 6X. Whitbread: Abroad Cooper, Castle Eden Ale. Guest Beers (G). Scrumpy Jack: Old Hazy Cider. Guest Cider (G). New Whitbread Hogshead pub in former shop premises opened in March. A total of 25 handpumps and 4 casks behind the bar serving up to 19 different beers. A raised seating area at the front leads to main bar area with bare floorboards, bare brick walls etc. in typically spartan style. Rear seating area with flagstone floor and brick fireplace has collection of car memorabiliacelebrating the golden age of motoring along Chiswick High Road in the 1920's and 1930's when No. 32 was occupied by the Autocar Service Company's "Gentlemen's Car Showroom". Food. Disabled WC. No muzak. Open all permitted hours.

PUBS CLOSED OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE

CENTRAL

EC1, LONDON APPRENTICE. Free House, closed, future uncertain. (E19)

EAST

E2, JEREMIAH BULLFROG. Ex-Grand Met (Watney). Now converted to Bethnal Green Montessori School. (E81, U117)

E2, WHITE HART. Renamed yet again to COCK & COMFORT. H unused. (E86, U73, U86)

E3, PRIORY TAVERN. Phoenix, closed, converted for residential use. (E92, U70, U76, U112)

E11, COWLEY ARMS. Bass, H removed. Now rebadged as East London Pub Co. (E128)

E15, QUEENS HEAD. Bass, H unused. Now rebadged as East London Pub Co. (E154, U83)

SOUTH EAST

SE8, HARP OF ERIN. Renamed yet again to LOONEY TOONES. Free House, closed. Formerly NOBODYS INN, previously ROUND THE BEND. (SE82, U103, U109)

WEST

HAMPTON WICK, OLD KINGS HEAD. Grand Met (Courage), closed, future uncertain. (W106, U91, U98)

OTHER CHANGES TO PUBS & BEER RANGES

CENTRAL

EC1, MOLLY BLOOMS. Renamed EAGLE & STUMP. -Beers listed except Fuller: London Pride. +Marston: Bitter, Pedigree. +Wadworth: 6X. Now free of tie. (E20)

EC1, MURPHYS TAVERNS. Reverted to GLUEPOT. -Beers listed. +Courage: Directors Bitter. +Wadworth: 6X. (E20)

WC1, MARQUIS CORNWALLIS. Renamed GOOSE & GRANITE. -Charrington: IPA. +Fuller: London Pride. +Just So Bitter (house beer). Refurbished in typical Just So Pub Co style; comfortable, food, no muzak. Upstairs bar now fully open. The loss of yet another historic pub name in the interests of corporate identity. A recent beer festival promised more interesting beers but the regular range does not even offer a guest. (N24, W47)

WC1, UNION TAVERN. -Beers listed. +Fuller: London Pride. +Greene King: IPA. +Marston: Pedigree. Now a Free House/bar and restaurant, ex Taylor Walker. Etched glass remains. (N31, W51)

EAST

E10, COACH & HORSES. Now rebadged as East London Pub Co, by Bass. (E123, U75)

E10, HARE & HOUNDS. -Beers listed. +Draught Bass. +Hancock: HB. Now rebadged as East London Pub Co, by Bass. (E125, U67)

E11, BELL. -Worthington: Best Bitter. Now rebadged as East London Pub Co, by Bass. (E127, U112)

E11, COLEGRAVE ARMS. -Beers listed. +Draught Bass. Now rebadged as East London Pub Co, by Bass. (E127)

E11, CROWN. Now rebadged as East London Pub Co, by Bass. Still fizz, H now removed. (E128, E76)

E11, NORTHCOTE. -M&B: Brew XI. +Hancock: IPA. Now rebadged as East London Pub Co, by Bass. (E129, U98)

E13, BLACK LION. +Guest beer. (E135, U69, U78)

E13, LORD STANLEY. -Shepherd Neame: Spitfire. +Guest beer. Shepherd Neame Bitter alternates with Best Bitter. (E136)

E15, ESSEX ARMS. -Draught Bass. Now rebadged as East London Pub Co, by Bass. (E153, U69, U108)

E15, LOCK, STOCK & BARREL. Renamed DRUM. (E154, U99)

E17, FLOWERPOT. Should read FLOWER POT (2 words). Now rebadged as East London Pub Co, by Bass. (E67, U80)

E17, GOOSE & GRANITE. +Fuller: London Pride. Formerly TOWER HOTEL. (E169, U111)

E17, LORD BROOKE. -Charrington: IPA. -M&B: Highgate Mild. Now rebadged as East London Pub Co, by Bass. (E167, U67)

NORTH WEST

NW1, COLLEGE ARMS. Renamed SLUGGER O'TOOLES. Now a Free House, ex Phoenix. Still fizz, H unused. (N163, U112)

SOUTH EAST

SE22, PLOUGH. Renamed GOOSE & GRANITE. -Beers listed except Draught Bass. +Just So: Bitter (house beer - sale price £1 a pint). Refurbished in typical Just So Pub Co style, with a variety of seating areas including a new conservatory. Emphasis on food and no music - Wetherspoons without the beer choice. Ironically as Wetherspoon seek local identities for their new pubs, Bass seem intent on applying the meaningless Goose & Granite name to all "Just So" conversions, this time with the loss of yet another landmark pub name and bus destination point. Food. Disabled WC. Open all permitted hours. (SE201)