The pub chains continue to open new outlets in former shop and commercial premises all over London. These include a S&N Rat & Parrot in WC2 Covent Garden; two Bass run "All Bar Ones" in SE1 London Bridge and SW18 Wandsworth; two Greene King "Ale Cafes" in Croydon and SW18 Southfields and the latest and most extravagantly furnished Wetherspoon Free House yet in Surbiton. S&N have rebadged and renamed a pub in W1 Marylebone as "London's first Scottish pub" and have changed one of its recent pseudo-Irish "Finnegan's Wakes" back to a real pub after a period of only six months and in the process reverting to its original name. Could this mark the end of the Irish conversion fad?

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

EC2, ALL BAR ONE, 34 Threadneedle Street. Draught Bass. Fuller: London Pride. Latest opening for the Bass chain in early October in former bank. Decorated in typical ABO style (see London Drinkers passim). Emphasis on food and wine. Real ale £2.20 a pint. Opens 11-11 Mon-Fri, closed weekends.

W1(Mar), DOME, Duke Street. No real ale. Cafe bar at rear (and part) of Selfridges.

W1(Mar), FATHER ED'S, 29A James Street. No real ale. Irish themed Free House in former cocktail bar premises.

WC2, HOPS, Strand Palace Hotel, Burleigh Street. No real ale. Free House/Bar at rear of residential hotel with separate entrance for general public.

WC2, O'REILLY'S, 67 Chandos Place. No real ale. Irish themed Free House in former commercial premises and in same ownership as BAD BOB'S in basement next door at No. 66 -note changed address. (U117)

WC2, RAT & PARROT, 63-66 St. Martins Lane. Courage: Directors Bitter. Theakston: Best Bitter, XB. Latest in the S&N chain opened in the summer in ground floor of office building. Spacious with wood panelled walls, light pine floor around bar area and raised carpeted seating area at side. Food. Open all permitted hours.

WC2, SOUTHSIDE BAR, 1B Tavistock Street. No real ale. New bar on first floor of Jubilee Market Hall building with independent access at rear.

WC2, WALKABOUT INN, 11 Henrietta Street. Regent Inns Free House. No real ale. Aussie and Kiwi pub & restaurant in former commercial premises. Entrance also in Maiden Lane.

SOUTH EAST

SE1, ALL BAR ONE, 28/30 London Bridge Street. Draught Bass. Fuller: London Pride. Another spacious new outlet for the Bass owned chain opened in September at the base of Fielden House office block opposite London Bridge Station forecourt. Decorated in typical ABO style. Opens 11-11 Mon-Fri, closed weekends.

SE8, LOONEY TOONES, 2 New King Street. Reopened and renamed HARP. Gibbs Mew: Country Bitter. Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. Reopened under yet another new name, formerly NOBODY'S INN and ROUND THE BEND. Originally HARP OF ERIN. (SE82, U103, U109, U124)

SE11, COCK TAVERN, 340 Kennington Road. Now named COCK but apparently spent a short period as "LUVERLY JUBBLYS". Draught Bass. (SE106)

CROYDON, OLD BRIEF, 48-50 George Street. Greene King: IPA, Abbot Ale, seasonal beers. Guest beer. A new Greene King "Ale Cafe" opened in early September in former solicitors and shop premises. Light pine flooring and wood panelling, soft lighting, exposed brickwork, empty wine bottles on high shelves, chandeliers, potted plants, wicker chairs etc. Raised seating area at rear and beer garden planned. Piped music. Emphasis on food with table service for both drinks and food. Open all permitted hours.

SOUTH WEST

SW3, FINNEGANS WAKE, 47 Denyer Street. Reverted to SHUCKBURGH ARMS. Greene King: IPA. Theakston: XB. All the pseudo-Irish junk has been removed and real ale reinstated after a period of just six months as a failed Irish theme pub - hooray! (SW56)

SW11, BAR COAST, 281 Lavender Hill. No real ale. Another Bass owned "Coast" cafe bar in former bank premises, nitrokeg only. May have carried CAFE COAST name for a short period after opening.

SW18, ALL BAR ONE, 527/9 Old York Road. Draught Bass. Fuller: London Pride. Latest outlet for Bass run chain, opened in October occupying two units, one formerly a shop and the other (No. 527) a bar/restaurant named L.J.Clarks (Or Us), not previously recorded in the updates or included in the SW London guide. Smaller than the average ABO, church furniture predominates together with all the usual features. Opens 12-11 Mon-Sat, 12-10.30 Sun.

SW18, OLD GARAGE, 20 Replingham Road. Greene King: IPA, Abbot Ale, seasonal beer. Guest beer. Another Greene King "Ale Cafe" opened-in late August in former car accessories premises near to Southfields tube. Done out in typical style with a variety of seating areas, with polished bare floor in main area and raised carpeted seating area at rear. Recorded music can be loud. Good value beer to compete with Wetherspoon's pub next door. TV. Food 12-9 Mon-Thurs and 12-8 Fri-Sun. No smoking area until 9pm. Open all permitted hours.

SURBITON, CORONATION HALL, St. Marks Hill. Courage: Directors Bitter. Fuller: London Pride. Theakston: Best Bitter. Two guest beers. Weston 1st Quality Draught Cider. Latest Wetherspoon Free House opened in September in former health club opposite the "Ferret & Trouser. Leg"; originally a lecture theatre and later a cinema. Opened originally in 1911, its name commemorating the coronation of George V in that year. It is probably the most lavishly furnished Wetherspoon pub yet. Entering the former foyer, raised seating areas have been created on each side, the one on the left being non-smoking with leopard skinned alcove seats and sofas. A short flight of steps and past a "coronation throne" brings you to the main bar area in the former auditorium containing a long bar to the left. Above the bar is a large glass fronted clock, two illuminated coloured pub signs and old cinema projectors and props. To the right lies another raised seating area with entry flanked by two blue globe lamps. At the rear, a mirrored staircase rises to a small balcony seating area overlooking the main bar. The usual local history panels are supplemented with photos of former cinema stars. In common with all Wetherspoons, oversize glasses are now in use! Food. Disabled WC. Open all permitted hours.

PUBS CLOSED OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE

CENTRAL

W1(Mar), NO COMMENT. Renamed HORNERS, closed, future uncertain. Formerly WHITTAKERS. (W36, U50)

WC2, PEACOCK, 13/14 Maiden Lane. Renamed and converted to cafe bar, BAR COAST in 1997. No real ale. A Bass owned cafe bar in the "Coast" chain. (W55, U74)

WC2, O'NEILL'S. Bass, H removed. Formerly P.J.MOLLOY & SON, originally WHITE SWAN. Adding insult to injury at this vandalised former classic pub. (W57, U106, U115)

EAST

E1, HOLLANDS. Young. Closed and for sale. One of London's few remaining untouched Victorian pubs, albeit in a rather inhospitable setting. Action is needed to Save this listed former GBG gem for posterity. (E67, U67, U70)

E14, DORSET ARMS. Grand Met (ex Watney), closed, future uncertain. (E144)

SOUTH EAST

SE1, SWAN & SUGARLOAF. tree House, now converted into flats. (SE36, U117)

SE1, THOMAS A'BECKET. Reopened and renamed NOLIAS, although retaining Old signs above new one. Now a jazz venue with admission charge and only open Tuesday to Saturday evenings. Note correct spelling of old name. (SE36)

SE18, AVENUE ARMS. Phoenix, closed, future uncertain. (SE165, U112)

SE18, LORD BLOOMFIELD. Ascot, now converted to residential use, although retaining old name on sign over entrance. (St 169, U'll)2, U113)

SOUTH WEST

SW1(B), MARABELS. Reopened but solely as a restaurant. (SW38)

SW3, QUEENS ARMS TAVERN. Wells, closed and believed to be being converted fOr fesidential use. The sad loss of One of the provinCial brewer's few pubs in London. (SW57)

SW8, ELEPHANT & CASTLE. Phoenix, closed, future uncertain. (SW75)

KEW, KINGS ARMS. Free House, now converted solely into a pizza and pasta restaurant named "ASK". (SW138)

WEST

ISLEWORTH, LABOURING BOYS. Grand Met (ex Watney), closed and believed to be awaiting demolition. (W131)

OTHER CHANGES TO PUBS & BEER RANGES

CENTRAL

W1(Mar), LINCOLN (IN MARYLEBONE). Renamed WILLIAM WALLACE. -Beers listed except Theakston: Best Bitter. +McEwans: 80/-. +Younger: Scotch Bitter. Now advertised at "London's first Scottish pub," this S&N former Youngers pub is now badged as a "J & J Morison" house. Scottish menu and tourist brochures available. (W35, U93, U98)

W1(Mar), MACEYS. Renamed HOUSE OF SPORTS ACTION BAR, still fizz. (W35)

W1(May), HOGSHEAD (IN ST. JAMES), 11,16 Dering Street. Now simply HOGSHEAD, the geographically inaccurate and ungrammatical subtitle having been removed. Note changed address. +Boddington: Bitter. +Fuller: London Pride. +Greene King: Abbot Ale. +Marston: Pedigree. +Morland: Old Speckled Hen. +Wadworth: 6X. +Whitbread: Castle Eden Ale. +Guest beers (one on handpump and up to four from casks behind the bar). +2 Guest ciders from polypins. Beers, may vary within the Whitbread removed. The old pub, originally the BUNCH OF GRAPES, now forms a small non-smoking corner of the extensively expanded pub which now stretches to the corner, taking in former travel agent premises and can now be viewed from Oxford Street. The typical Hogshead decor has been imposed with exposed brickwork and stone flagged floors. Stairs lead down to a basement seating/eating area. Sadly the intimate atmosphere of the old pub as a small haven off Oxford Street has been completely destroyed. Opens 11-11 Mon-Sat and 12-6 Sun. (W38, U79, U90, U118)

W1(S), BATH HOUSE. -Flowers: IPA. -Whitbread: Castle Eden Ale. +Fuller: London Pride. +Marston: Pedigree. Now badged by Whitbread as a "Hawkins & Co" pub. (W41, U48, U93)

WEST

HAYES, MUSIC BOX. Renamed THOMAS HENRY K. =Fuller: London Pride. +Courage: Best Bitter. (W118)