The aim of 'Capital Pubcheck' is to share information about the latest happenings The the London pub scene including new pub and bar openings, name changes, acquisitions, closures, notable changes to beer ranges etc. Cross references to CAMRA's various pub guides covering Greater London are also provided to enable easy updating.

Information is gathered from a variety of sources including London Drinker readers, individual CAMRA members and branch contacts, breweries, pub operators, landlords etc.

A quiet month for pub openings with just one outlet of note reported from Whitbread in Croydon. Pub closures continue apace with conversions to other uses now also affecting more affluent, high value areas of the Capital. There is some evidence that recent renamings may reflect a return to a more traditional approach, often including reversion to original names from the crass names adopted in recent years.

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.

NEW & REOPENED PUBS & PUBS CONVERTED TO REAL ALE

EAST

El, PACIFICOS, 72 Shoreditch High St. Reopened and renamed RAINBOW (SPORTS BAR). Draught Bass. Fuller: London Pride. Features 'exotic dancing'. Formerly BULL & PUMP. (E62, U92, U134)

E2, CITY OF PARIS, 178 Old Ford Rd. Wells: Eagle IPA (£1.00 a pint)

BARKING, FERRET & TROUSERLEG. Reverted to BARGE AGROUND. Courage: Best Bitter. (X12, U74, U85, U 106, U 117, U135)

SOUTH EAST

SE16, TROPICS, 264 Rotherhithe New Rd. Reopened and renamed GOLDEN LION. Now owned by Mayfair Taverns, ex Belhaven. No real ale, H unused. (SE133, U153)

CROYDON, HOGSHEAD, 58-60 High St. Boddington: Bitter. Flowers: Original Bitter, Abroad Cooper. Marston: Pedigree. Young: Special. Scrumpy Jack: Old Hazy Cider. Guest beers including four on stillage behind bar. New Whitbread Hogshead in premises most recently a finance office and estate agency but originally a bank, opened in May 1998. A sensitive and attractive conversion with stone flagged and polished wood flooring (with rugs), wood panelling etc. Plaques commemorate its former banking use by NatWest and the London Joint City and Midland Bank. A comfy corner features fireplace and sofas. The bar is stacked with wines and Belgian beers. Stairs lead to a spacious and airy upstairs bar (with 3 handpumps) overlooking the street market which can be hired for functions. Guest beers include those from the Rebellion Brewery. Food 12-10, Disabled WC, Open all permitted hours.

WEST

W12, SEVEN STARS. Renamed TYPHOON TAVERN. Adnams: Bitter. Tetley: Bitter. Former Allied (ex Taylor Walker) pub acquired by Taipan Taverns who run the Jim Thompson's oriental bar/restaurant chain. Decorated with oriental sunshades and bric-a-brac with polished wood flooring. Restaurant at rear. Jazz Sunday evenings. (W92)

TWICKENHAM, MURRAYS, 59 York St. No real ale. Free House/bar in former shop unit.

PUBS CLOSED OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE

CENTRAL

EC1, CLERK & WELL. Gibbs Mew (now Enterprise) closed. Formerly THOMAS WETHERED. (E25, U79, U132)

EC3, SIR JOHN FALSTAFF. Free House, closed.(E42)

EAST

El, YORKSHIRE GREY. Free House. Converted to flats. (E76, U70, U79, U108)

E2, BEEHIVE. Grand Met (ex Watney), closed, boarded up. (E77)

E9, STAG. Ascot, now demolished to make way for new housing development. (E122, U99, U108)

E9, WELSH HARP. Renamed HOSPITAL TAVERN. Now a Farrens Free House, ex Shepherd Neame. H unused. (E122)

NORTH WEST

NW8, DUKE OF YORK, 2/4 Gateforth Street. Scottish & Newcastle, H removed. (N214)

NW8, EXETER ARMS (BEER ENGINE). Whitbread, H removed. (N214)

NW8, HEROES OF ALMA. Grand Met (ex Watney), closed. (N214)

SOUTH EAST

SE10, FOX & HOUNDS. Free House, closed, planning permission for conversion to residential use refused, future uncertain. (SE98, U102)

SOUTH WEST

SW1(P), BRAHMS. Inntrepreneur, converted to restaurant named Little Bay. (SW40)

SW1(P), DENBIGH ARMS. Inntrepreneur, signage removed, closed and boarded up, future uncertain, (SW40)

SW1(P), DEVONSHIRE ARMS. Inntrepreneur, closed and being converted to Pizza Express restaurant. (SW40)

SW6, HARWOOD ARMS. Inntrepreneur, H unused. (SW67)

SW10, NOT QUITE LIVE. Renamed DOWN THE IFIELD. Allied, H unused. (SW85)

SW19, NAGS HEAD. Free House, H unused. (SW118, U131)

SW19, SPORTSMAN. Free House, closed and boarded up, future uncertain. (SW119)

OTHER CHANGES TO PUBS & BEER RANGES

CENTRAL

EC1, EAGLE & STUMP. Renamed TRADER (THE). -Marston: Pedigree. +Boddington: Bitter. Now run by 'Smith & Jones'. Formerly MOLLY BLOOMS. (E20, U124)

EC1, GLUEPOT. Renamed NELSONS RETREAT. -Wadworth: 6X. +Courage: Best Bitter. Now 'Free' ex Grand Met (Watney). Formerly MURPHYS TAVERNS. (E20, U124)

EC1, ROSEBERRY. Renamed BAREX. -Beers listed except Fuller: London Pride. +Greene King: IPA. Refurbished. (E22)

EC1, WILMINGTON ARMS. -Beers listed. +Greene King: Martha Greene's Brewery Ale, IPA, Abbot Ale. (E27, U95, U98, U117)

EAST

E1, THREE CROWNS. Now Inn Business, ex Wiltshire. (E74, U71)

E3, LORD TREDEGAR. Now Inn Business. Ex Sycamore Tavern. (E91, U91, U99)

E8, CROWN. Renamed O'NEILLS BAR. - Webster: Yorkshire Bitter. +Whitbread: Best Bitt . (E112, U79)

E9, WHITE LION. Renamed GENEVAS but still • spears to be closed. (E122, U 110)

E11, CLUTTERBUCKS (ALE HOUSE), 36 High St Wanstead. Renamed D LAFFERTYS & SONS. -Beers listed. +Laffertys: Bitter (house beer brewed by Allied Domecq). +Morland: Old Speckled Hen. Another Irish theme pub. Formerly CHURCHILLS. (U90, U101, U113)

E11, CROWN. Renamed SHEEPWALK, still fizz. (E128, U76, U124, U134)

E11, NORTH STAR. -Beers listed. +Draught Bass. +Fuller: London Pride. (E129)

E16, ROYAL OAK, 67 Barking Road. -Courage: Best Bitter. +Bass: Toby Cask (£1.10) (E160, U80)

BARKING, BULL. Now badged as part of the Bass 'East London Pub Co' estate. (X12, U118)

NORTH

N1, PRINCE OF WALES, 13 Felton St. Renamed MADISONS. Now a Free House, ex Charles Wells. Note full address. (N55)

SOUTH EAST

CROYDON, PORTER & SORTER. -Beers listed except Courage: Best Bitter and Directors Bitter. +Boddington: Bitter. +Marston: Pedigree. +Wadworth: 6X. Now a 'Wizard' Free House, formerly Courage. (3SE248, U49, U108)

SOUTH WEST

SW1(B), ANTELOPE. -Beers listed except Adnams: Bitter and Tetley: Bitter. +Adnams: Broadside. +Brakspear: Bitter. +Marston: Pedigree. +Guest beer. (SW37)

SW6, HALFWAY HOUSE. Renamed FRONT ROOM. -Bass: Toby Cask. +Adnams: Bitter. +Draught Bass. +Weston: Old Rosie Cider. Refurbished with open plan blue and cream decor and pine floor. (SW67)

SW10, BULL BAR. Reverted to BLACK BULL. Still fizz. (SW84)

SW10, HOLLYWOOD. -Beers listed except Courage: Directors Bitter and Theakston: Best Bitter. (SW85)

SW13, MANOR ARMS. -Beers listed. +Fuller: London Pride. +Guest beer. Now a Free House, ex Inntrepreneur (SW94)

SW13, ROSE OF DENMARK. Now a Free House, ex Phoenix. (SW95)

MORDEN, JACK STAMPS BEER HOUSE. -Guest beer. +Draught Bass. +Brakspear: Bitter. +Courage: Best Bitter. Remodelled along with name change reported in Update 135 to provide a more pub like atmosphere. Raised seating area, beer related pictures, darts, pool, table football, large screen TV. Formerly END OF THE LINE. (SW150, U132, U135)

WEST

W6, DISTILLERS ARMS. Now simply DISTILLERS. -Courage: Best Bitter. +Theakston: XB. (W74, U107)