The big news this month is the acquisition by Bishops, the fledgling London micro brewery of their first tied house in SE1 Tooley Street close to London Bridge. The opening of new pubs by brewers and pub operators in prime shopping locations continues with the latest Whitbread Hogshead in Ilford, another Bass "All Bar One" in W1 Regent Street and two Greene King outlets in the City and W5 Ealing. More Bass pubs in East London have been rebadged as part of the East London Pub Co estate. A new South West London Pub Guide has been published (see review elsewhere), the first for eleven years. Updates to the new guide are included below, to which should be added the two new pubs in SW4 and SW12 reported last month in Update 124 for completeness.

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 - South West London Pub Guide, 2nd edition; 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

CENTRAL

EC3, OLD TEA WAREHOUSE, Cree Church Buildings, 4-8 Creechurch Lane. Greene King: IPA, Abbot Ale, seasonal beers (H). Guest beers (G). New Greene King pub created in former salvage salerooms, originally a tea warehouse, opened in Oct 1996. "China Tea" and "Earl Grey" bars lead off a courtyard (outdoor drinking) with "rustic" bare floorboards, wooden tables and chairs, exposed ventilation etc. The former bar also has up to 6 guest beers from micro breweries on gravity dispense. The downstairs Ceylon Cellar Bar has restaurant meals between 12.30 and 8pm and is adorned with tea related photos and adverts. Recently won NatWest Bank Pub of the Year award. Loud music in evenings. Officially opens 11-11 Mon-Fri, but may close from 9pm dependent on trade, particularly earlier in the week. Available for hire at weekends.

W1(Mar), ALL BAR ONE, 289-293 Regent Street. Draught Bass. Fuller: London Pride. Latest outlet for Bass chain, opened February 1997 in former "Dome" restaurant. The premises are on the site of the first Forte's milk bar dating from 1934 and were officially opened by Lord Forte himself (see plaque). The usual ABO decor with pine floor, cream painted walls, large picture windows, blackboard displaying food and "tracker" over bar for delivering orders to kitchen. Wine bottles predominate behind the bar and the well kept real ales are dispensed through handpumps with gold clips reflecting the price (£2.20 a pint!) Opens 11-11 Mon-Sat, 12-6 Sunday.

W1(Mar), STIR CRAZY, 120/122 Marylebone Lane. Renamed JUSTIN DE BLANK. Adnams: Bitter. A bar and restaurant. (U110, U111, U112)

EAST

E11, HALFWAY HOUSE, 345 High Road. Renamed CROPPY ACRE. Ind Coope: Burton Ale. Wadworth: 6X. Now a Free House, ex Phoenix. (E128, U108, U109)

ILFORD, COPPERFIELDS, 229/231 Cranbrook Road. No real ale. New Free House in former shop units.

ILFORD, HOGSHEAD, 74/76 Cranbrook Road. Boddington: Bitter. Flowers: IPA, Original Bitter. Greene King: Abbot Ale. Marston: Pedigree. Wadworth: 6X. Whitbread: Abroad Cooper. Guest beers (G). New Whitbread pub in former building society office opened in June 1997. Fitted out in typical Hogshead style with bare floorboards and wood panelled walls covered in beer related pictures, old photos of Ilford and cabinets with old bottles from defunct breweries. Three raised seating areas either side of entrance and to the side; alcoves at rear with screens. 9 Handpumps and up to 4 guest beers on gravity dispense behind the bar. Belgian and American micro beers in bottle. Food. TV. Disabled WC. Open all permitted hours.

ROMFORD, ASYLUM 66, 166 South Street. No real ale. New Free House in former disco bar.

ROMFORD, GLOBAL NETCAFE, 72-74 South Street. No real ale. Free House opened in 1995 with Internet terminals.

SOUTH EAST

SE13, SHILLELAGHS BAR, 377 Lewisham High Street. No real ale. New Free House/Irish bar in former shop unit.

WEST

W5, OLD GOA, 9/10 The Green, High Street. Greene King: IPA, Abbot Ale. The first of a new Greene King chain of "ale cafes" opened in May 1997 in former tandoori restaurant (hence the name). Spacious bar with pictures from the Raj adorning the walls, polished floor and hanging shaded chandeliers over the bar. Emphasis on food with optional table service for drinks and meals. A "house beer" is promised. Opens 9am for breakfast (9.30 Sun) and all permitted hours.

PUBS CLOSED OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE

CENTRAL

WC2, SUGAR LOAF. Renamed O'NEILLS. Bass, H removed. The ruination of yet another characterful pub to feed the pseudo-Irish fad. (W56, U101)

EAST

E7, HOLLY TREE. Bass, H unused. Now badged as "East London Pub Co." (E108)

E17, WILD ROVER. Renamed TAP (THE). Bass, closed, future uncertain. Formerly ESSEX BREWERY TAP. (E167, U105)

ROMFORD, CHARMERS WINE BAR. Renamed CELLAR BAR. Free House, H removed. (U84)

ROMFORD, TEMPTATIONS. Free House, closed, future uncertain. (X87)

SEVEN KINGS, KING'S (CUCKOO'S NEST). Free House, demolished. (X91)

SOUTH EAST

SE1, ROYAL GEORGE (BERMONDSEY). Phoenix, closed, future uncertain. (SE31, U112, U118)

SE1, TRINITY ARMS. Free House, closed, future uncertain. The loss of a well respected real ale mecca - hopefully temporary. (SE36, U106)

SE8, CROWS NEST. Bass, closed, future uncertain. (SE78, U102) SE8, FOUNTAIN. Phoenix, closed and converted to Chinese restaurant. (SE79, U112)

SE8, GLOBE. Grand Met (ex Watney), closed, future uncertain. (SE79)

SE8, MANSION HOUSE. Free House, closed, future uncertain. (SE81, U102)

SE13, CASTLE. Renamed ZAR BAR. Now a Free House, ex Bass, H removed. (SE118, U102)

SE18, BROOK. Grand Met (ex Courage), closed, future uncertain. (SE166)

SE18, FORT TAVERN. Phoenix, closed, future uncertain. (SE168, U112)

SE18, PRINCE RUPERT. Grand Met (ex Courage), closed, future uncertain. (SE173)

SOUTH WEST

SW3, POW (PRINCESS OF WALES). Inntrepreneur, converted to restaurant named "Chelsea Square" but with a small ancillary bar and retaining full license. (SW57)

SW11, CLOCK HOUSE. Bass, H unused (SW87)

WEST

W5, BAR ESCOBAR. Free House, converted to "Cafe Rouge" restaurant. (U92)

TEDDINGTON, HORSE & GROOM. Grand Met (ex Watney) now converted to pizza restaurant but with ancillary bar and retaining full licence. (W147, U117)

OTHER CHANGES TO PUBS & BEER RANGES

CENTRAL

W1(Mar), VICTORY. -Boddington: Bitter. +Flowers: Original Bitter. (W36, U73, U87)

EAST

E1, CITY DARTS. -Beers listed. +Batemans: Valiant. +Greene King: IPA. +Marston: Pedigree. Beers may vary. Now a Thorley Taverns Free House, ex Grand Met (Truman). (E63)

E1, LONDON HOSPITAL TAVERN. -Beers listed. +2 Guest beers. (E69)

E1, MR. PICKWICKS. -Beers listed. +Ash Vine: Challenger. +Marston: Pedigree. Beers may vary. Now a Thorley Taverns Free House, ex Grand Met (Truman). (E70)

E1, SCARBOROUGH ARMS. Current guest beers are Fuller: London Pride and Greene King: IPA. (E72, U101)

E1, WHITE HART, 1 Mile End Road. -Young: Special. Under new ownership. (E75)

E1, WHITE SWAN. -Shepherd Neame: Best Bitter. +Shepherd Neame: Spitfire, Bishops Finger. (E75)

E7, LIVE & LET LIVE. -Guest beer. +Draught Bass. Now badged as "East London Pub Co", still Bass owned. (E108, U117)

E7, RISING SUN. Now badged as "East London Pub Co", still fizz, H unused. (E108)

E11, BIRKBECK TAVERN. +Viking beers from Broadstairs, Kent. (E127, U69, U113)

E11, BROADWAY. Renamed again to OLD SHELAGHS. Formerly BUGSYS and DIRTY NELLIES. (E128, U36, U109)

E11, THATCHED HOUSE. Now a Free House, ex Bass, still fizz, H unused. (E130)

E11, THIRST & LAST. Reverted to BRITANNIA. (E127, U89)

E15, MANBY ARMS. -Beers listed. +Draught Bass. Now badged as “East London Pub Co’, still Bass owned. (E154, U73)

E17, ARTFUL. Renamed CENTRAL STATION. Still open behind shuttered windows. (E165)

E17, FLOWER POT. -Charrington: IPA. -Worthington: Best Bitter. (E167, U80, U124)

GANTS HILL, CHAMPS BAR, 19 Sevenways Parade, Woodfield Avenue. Renamed HYPA HYPA, still fizz. Note correct address. (U117)

ILFORD, MR. Q’S. Should read HOPE (MR. Q’S). Retains HOPE as primary name, Mr Q’s is the subsidiary “theme” name. Formerly HOPE REVIVED. (X63, U72, U110)

ILFORD, STOP OUT. Renamed HARLEQUINS. Now charges admission fee. (X66)

UPMINSTER, HUNGRY HORSE. Reverted to BRIDGE HOUSE as primary name with HUNGRY HORSE retained as “concept” subsidiary name. -Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. +Draught Bass. +Greene King: IPA. +Webster: Green Label. (X106, U67, U72, U98, U108, U117)

SOUTH EAST

SE1, SHIPWRIGHTS ARMS (ANVIL). Reverted simply to SHIPWRIGHTS ARMS. -Beers listed. +Bishops: Thirsty Willies, Mitre Best Bitter, Cathedral, Willies Revenge. +Guest beers. Former Grand Met (ex Courage) pub latterly occupied by private club renamed ANVIL though retaining original signage, now acquired by Bishops Brewery, SE1 as its first tied house. Open all permitted hours. (SE33, U105)

SE1, SKINNERS ARMS. _ Renamed TOWNHOUSE. -Flowers: IPA. +Marston: Pedigree. (SE34)

SE3, NEW TIGERS HEAD. +Theakston: XB. +Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. Now badged as an S&N “Barras & Co” house. (SE46, U107)

SE10, WILLIAM IV. -Flowers: Original Bitter. +Draught Bass. +Fuller: London Pride. A Free House formerly leased by Banks & Taylor whose livery has now mostly been removed from the exterior. (SE103)

SOUTH WEST

SW3, SURPRISE. Now SURPRISE (IN CHELSEA). -Guest beer. +Worthington: Best Bitter. (SW58)

SW5, BROMPTONS. Renamed WARWICK. (SW62)

SW11, FOX & HOUNDS. +Highgate: Saddlers Best Bitter. +Young: Bitter. (SW88)

SW11, PRINCE ALBERT. -Beers listed. +Theakston: Best Bitter,XB. (SW89)

SW11, QUEEN VICTORIA. Renamed SPIKEY HEDGEHOG. Original name still visible on sign at side. (SW89)

SW18, BREWERY TAP. -Young: Winter Warmer. +Young: Seasonal beer. Public bar converted to Young’s Brewery visitors’ centre in April 1997. Brewery tours usually at 12noon, 2pm and 4pm. Saloon bar still operates as a pub but open only 11-6 Mon-Sat and 12-6 Sunday. (SW111)

SW19, WOODMAN. +Greene King: IPA. +Guest beer. (SW121)

WEST

W5, FIDDLERS THREE. - Worthington: Best Bitter. Renamed EDWARDS. Latest Bass pub to fall victim to the requirement for corporate uniformity. Opens 8am (10am Sunday) for breakfast (U103)

BRENTFORD, WHITE HORSE. -Beers listed except Draught Bass. +Hancock: HB. +Worthington: Best Bitter. +Guest beer. (W99, U63, U79, U83)

ISLEWORTH (OSTERLEY), GULPERS BAR. Renamed OSTERLEY FREE HOUSE. Now run by Four Pillars Hotels. -Beers listed. Brain: Bitter. +Fuller: London Pride. +Moorhouse: Pendle Witch. +Taylor: Landlord. +Tetley: Bitter. +Guest beer (currently Cottage: Norman Conquest). Under new management. Seventh handpump planned. (W131, U79)

TEDDINGTON, KINGS ARMS. +Marston: Pedigree. +Morland: Old Speckled Hen. (W147, U57, U94, U101)