The aim of 'Capital Pubcheck' is to share information about the latest happenings on 1. 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.

Of the thirteen brand new pubs and bars reported this month across the Capital, only five offer real ale, including one each for the Puzzle, Regent Inns and Wetherspoon chains. Disappointingly, a new brewpub in EC2 City dispenses only fizz beers from its shiny new equipment. It is increasingly the case that many new openings and refurbishments aimed primarily at young drinkers either offer no real ale or provide it only as a token presence. Worthy of note is a Good Beer Guide listed pub in WC2 acquired by Sam Smith's which has retained its handpumps! Sadly the latest Wetherspoon outlet in Welling is the first to be spotted equipped only with brim measure glasses following the company's recent turnabout on serving full measures in lined glasses.

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 Bee_r Guide, 8th edition.

NEW & REOPENED PUBS & PUBS CONVERTED TO REAL ALE

CENTRAL

EC1, FARRINGDON BARS, 25-27 Farringdon Road. Draught Bass. Greene King: Abbot Ale. Hancock: HB. Young: Bitter. New Regent Inns Free House opened in October in former commercial premises being converted for residential use above. A tiled forecourt leads left or right into a large bar area fitted out in identikit style to just about every other new bar in London ie. light pine flooring and furniture, cream walls, spot lighting, abstract paintings, etc. A few comfy pastel coloured sofas and TV for sports events. Small raised non-smoking area at rear. Food, disabled WC. Open Mon-Sat 11-11. Closed Sun.

EC2, PACIFIC ORIENTAL, 1 Bishopsgate. New brewpub, bar and restaurant opened in October in former bank. The brewing equipment supplied by Casper Shultz of Bamberg, Germany, is prominently displayed at the front of the bar and four beers are brewed comprising: Orchard (fruit beer) 4.6%, Pils (lager) 5%, Weiss (wheat beer) 5% and Bishops (bitter) 4.5%. Disappointingly the latter (along with the other beers) is served through a continental style font from tanks believed to be kept under gas pressure. Cream painted decor and pine floors. Oriental food, restaurant upstairs. Open 11.30-11 Mon-Fri only.

EC4, CARRIAGE HOUSE, 54 Farringdon Street. No real ale. A Free House/bar and brasserie with vaults restaurant in former shop unit.

EC4, HOOP & GRAPES, 80 Farringdon Street. Reopened and renamed SAMUELS after major refurbishment of surrounding area. No real ale. Now a Free House/bar and restaurant, ex Courage. (E49, U69)

WC2, BAR 38, 1 Long Acre. No real ale. Free House/bar in former bank premises.

WC2, JOHNSTONS, Strand Palace Hotel, Burleigh St. No real ale. Free House/bar attached to hotel with separate entrance in Burleigh St.

EAST

E2, SALMON & BALL, 502 Bethnal Green Rd. Courage: Best Bitter. (E84, U98)

E4, CHAMPERS BAR, 225 Chingford Mount Rd. No real ale. A Free House bar and restaurant in former shop premises.

E4, WISHING WELL, 11 Hall Lane. Ushers: Best Bitter. New Free House in former electricity showroom. A freestanding brick building with a clock up top. Comfortably furnished in traditional style with fussy carpet, tiled bar area and bare brick and orange painted walls covered with pictures. TV screens hang from ceiling for sports events. Background music, disabled WC. Open all permitted hours.

E11, CROPPY ACRE, 345 High Rd. Tetley: Bitter. Formerly HALFWAY HOUSE. (E128, U108, U109, U125, U130)

E15, SWAN, 31 The Broadway. Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. Wadworth: 6X. Refurbished by new owner Wizard Inns, ex Grand Met (Watney). (E155, U113, U134)

NORTH

N1, OVERDRAFT, 74 Upper St. No real ale - H unused. Free House/bar in former shop unit.

N15, MITRE, 89 High Rd. Renamed GOLDEN STOOL. Draught Bass. Fuller: London Pride. Music venue at rear. (N125)

N16, BOOTH'S, 71/73 Stoke Newington Church St. No real ale. Free House/basement bar with upstairs restaurant in former commercial premises.

N17, HERON WINE BAR & BRASSERIE, Heron Hospitality Centre, Hale Wharf, Ferry Lane. 2 Guest ales (G). Stairs or lift lead to second floor bar and restaurant. Pinewood floor, wicker chairs, abstract paintings and views over River Lee Navigation. Tapas menu and occasionally live jazz. Open all permitted hours, (restaurant 12-9.30 Tues to Friday, 6-10.30 Sat).

SOUTH EAST

CROYDON, WISEGUYS, 187-191 London Rd. Fuller: London Pride. Greene King: Abbot Ale. Members club in former car showroom. Basic decor. Food. Music. Open normal pub hours.

WELLING, NEW CROSS TURNPIKE, 55 Bellegrove Rd. Courage: Directors Bitter. Marston: Sundance. Shepherd Neame: Spitfire. Theakston: Best Bitter. 2 Guest beers. Wetherspoon Free House opened late September in former bank. One of the full length windows at the front is etched with a map of the New Cross Turnpike, established in the reign of King George III and which ran through Welling, being part of the road to Dover, with a tollgate nearby at Crook Log. The hanging sign shows the correct spelling of the name whereas the main sign shows `Newcross' as one word in error. Light airy interior with cream painted wood panelled and pastel green walls and brightly patterned carpets. It is entered through double glass doors, and to the left is a comfy seating area with 'fireplace' flanked by dusty books. Towards the rear is a raised seating/no smoking area with exposed brickwork leading to an outside patio. Stairs at the front lead up to a balcony seating area overlooking the bar complete with 'pulpit'. More comfy seats, another 'fireplace' and more dusty books lead on through to a roof garden. Nearby the local history panels can easily be missed being consigned by the designer to a corridor leading to the toilets! Only brim measure glasses are available (necessitating a request for a top-up at the time of survey) in accordance with Wetherspoon's retrograde step to phase out lined glasses. Will posters advertising 5% less beer now be displayed? Disabled WC. Food. Open all permitted hours.

SOUTH WEST

SW11, PUZZLE, 47-49 Lavender Hill. Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter (both £2 a pint!). Latest Puzzle Pub Co Free House opened July 1998 in former Co-op store. Furnished in contemporary style with light wood floor and furniture, tables and chairs, sofas, 'fireplace', dusty books, etc. Newspapers and large screen TV for sport. Patio at front. Food, disabled WC. Open all permitted hours.

PUBS CLOSED OR CEASED SELLING REAL ALE

NORTH

N7, JUG O'PUNCH. Ascot, converted to residential use. (N88)

N12, BONKAZ, 230 Woodhouse Rd. No real ale. Free House/bar. Rename SCOTTS.

N16, RYANS. Free House, H removed. (N131)

NORTH WEST

NW9, UPPER WELSH HARP. Allied (ex-Taylor Walker), demolished. (U109)

NW10, GREEN MAN. Fuller, H unused. (N223)

SOUTH WEST

HAM & PETERSHAM, DYSARTS. Corporate Catering. H removed following refurbishment. (SW136)

KINGSTON, KINGSTON MILL. Bass, H unused. (SW143, U135)

SURBITON, RISING SUN. Bass, H unused (SW162)

WEST

ISLEWORTH, LABOURING BOYS. Grand Met (ex Watney), now demolished. (W131, U95, U129)

OTHER CHANGES TO PUBS & BEER RANGES

CENTRAL

WC2, ANGEL. -Beers listed. +Sam Smith: OBB. After expiry of Inntrepreneur lease, Sam Smiths have finally taken over management following acquisition of the freehold last year. Thankfully real ale has been retained in this GBG pub so far. (W32, U98, U106, U133)

WC2, CROWN & ANCHOR. -Beers listed. +John Smith: Bitter. +Wells: Bombardier. +Young: Bitter. Now a Free House, ex Grand Met (Watney). (W53)

EAST

E3, BOW BELLS. -Beers listed except Young: Bitter. +Adnams: Bitter. +Fuller: London Pride. +Greene King: Abbot Ale. Recently refurbished in traditional style. Guest beer promised soon. Food now available 12-3, 5-8 Mon to Sat and 12-3 Sun. (E89, U137)

E4, KINGS HEAD. -Beers listed except Tetley: Bitter. +Marston: Pedigree. +Morland: Old Speckled Hen. +Guest beers. Now an Allied Festival Ale House, (E96, U73)

E6, EARL OF WAKEFIELD. Now part of Bass owned East London Pub Co chain. (E104, U89)

E10, COACH & HORSES. -Worthington: Best Bitter. +Courage: Best Bitter (£1.30 a pint). (E123, U75, U124, U134)

E11, HEATHCOTE ARMS. Now part of Bass owned East London Pub Co chain. (E128, U136)

E11, NORTH STAR. Now part of Bass owned East London Pub Co chain. (E129, U136)

E13, CASTLE. Now part of Bass owned East London Pub Co chain. (E135, U86)

E13, DUKE OF EDINBURGH. Now part of Bass owned East London Pub Co chain. (E 1 35)

E15, KING HAROLD. -Guest beer. +Courage: Best Bitter. (E153, U85, U91, U113, U130)

CREEKMOUTH (BARKING), CROOKED BILLET. Now part of Bass owned East London Pub Co chain. (X40, U79)

ILFORD, PLOUGH. Now part of Bass owned East London Pub Co chain. (X66)

NORTH

N16, MAGPIE & STUMP. Renamed TUP (STOKE NEWINGTON). -Beers listed. +Courage: Best Bitter. +Marston: Pedigree. +Theakston: XB. Now operated by Tup chain, ex Saxon Inns. (N129)

NORTH WEST

NW4, GREYHOUND. -Beers listed. +Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. +Flowers: Original Bitter. +Fuller: London Pride. +Guest beer. Now run by Surrey Free Inns, ex Richardsons (N193, U110)

NW9, WHITE LION OF MORTIMER. Renamed WORLDS END by new owners Ambishus. -Beers listed except Courage: Directors Bitter. +Bass: Toby Cask. +Courage: Best Bitter. +Greene King: IPA, Abbot Ale. +3 Guest beers. (U138)

EDGWARE, BLACKING BOTTLE. -Beers listed except Courage: Directors Bitter. +Bass: Toby Cask. +Courage: Best Bitter. +Greene King: IPA, Abbot Ale. +3 Guest beers. (N255, U138)

SOUTH WEST

SW4, AULD TRIANGLE. Renamed AROUND THE CORNER. Still fizz. (SW59)

KINGSTON, ARTFUL DODGER. Now Scottish & Newcastle, ex Inntrepreneur (Corporate Catering lease) (SW140)

KINGSTON, BLACK HORSE. -Beers listed. +Courage: Best Bitter. (SW140)

KINGSTON, BULL & BUSH. -Courage: Best Bitter. +John Smith: Bitter. (SW140)

KINGSTON, CAMBRIDGE ARMS. - Ruddle: Best Bitter. +Courage: Directors Bitter. (SW140)

KINGSTON, DUKE TAVERN. -Wells: Eagle. +House beer (Dukes Special), origin unknown. (SW141)

KINGSTON, KINGSTON LODGE HOTEL. -Beers listed. +Draught Bass. (SW143)

KINGSTON, SIR ROBERT PEEL. -Greene King: IPA. +Fuller: London Pride. +Guest beer. (SW144)

KINGSTON, WHEELWRIGHTS ARMS. -Beers listed. +Courage: Directors Bitter. +Theakston: Best Bitter. (SW144)

NEW MALDEN, EARL BEATTY. -Beers listed. +Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. (SW151)

SURBITON, BERRYLANDS. Now Scottish & Newcastle, ex Inntrepreneur. (SW160)

SURBITON, BRITANNIA. -Draught Bass. +Fuller: London Pride. (SW161)

SURBITON, ROYAL OAK. Now Scottish & Newcastle, ex Inntrepreneur. (SW163)

WEST

HANWORTH, HORSE & GROOM. Now badged as part of S&N's 'John Barras' chain. (W108, U94, U107)

ISLEWORTH, COUNTY ARMS. -Beers listed. +Boddington: Bitter. +Courage: Best Bitter, Directors Bitter. +Marston: Pedigree. Free House acquired and refurbished by Wizard Inns. (W130, U86)