To the BEER GIUIDE. 1991 to now update file.
The latest update. is here.
In February 2001
Ron Andrews informs me that the Sir Alfred Hitchcock E11 may be turned into a nursing home.
In E1 Colin Price reports the mention of a new Wetherspoon outlet due in Mansell Street according to their mag.
In EC1 the Nelson's Retreat, formerly the Glue Pot sells vodka jelly in six flavours! Don't even ask. They were selling Brakspear at 200p as well as GK IPA. Opposite the Lord Nelson are selling Youngs Bitter at 230p. The Watneys Red Barrel signs are still in evidence at this pub which once sold Hammerton's Porter. In Whitecross Street the Drum & Monkey (ex British Queen) will become occupied by the YMCA. The Crosby Head does not appear to have a name though Upstart appears on a chalkboard outside.
E2 Joiners Arms looks closed. Pickles (Norfolk Arms) Has been sold by auction (May 2001). The building formerly housed the Manchester Arms (Little Wonder) 155 Hackney Road is now a hairdressers. Isn't it amazing how many silly renamed pubs get closed/sold.
E3 The Unicorn had a application for change of use turned down according to an article in the local East London Advertiser. A new Wetherspoon will open in Roman Road (580-586) in July. Click here for a photo of the site. It is in the heart of the Roman Road market and nearly opposite the closed Ranelagh Arms and is housed in a former indoor market which was Caters many years ago. When Caters the local council gave permission for Presto to open a supermarket nearby as competion to Caters who had two provisions shops in the market. Presto then took over Caters and closed them down. In turn Presto were taken over by Safeway. Also the Wetherspoon website www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk lists a new outlet as the Ledger Building Docklands.
E4 The Kings Head in Kings Head Hill has now closed for its refurb.
E10 The Wakefield Arms is rumoured to be turned into flats. This would make it the second pub to do so in the road. The Holly Bush did so some years back.
E12 Colin Price's reliable source reports real ale at the Victoria Cross. The exciting beers are GK IPA and Tetley!
E14 Colin Price refers to the Wetherspoon mag and a new outlet due in Hertsmere Road.
I don't know how many of you are interested in the opening of bar/cafe type establishments but here is an article that I submitted to London Drinker way back in August 2000 that they never used.
The Old Street area (EC1/EC2) has become a hotbed of bars, cafes and restaurants. Not surprising as there is no end to the new apartments springing up there. Didn’t we use to call them flats? Taking exit 2 at the Tube up City Road at 104-122 is Barong. It appears to be a bar and restaurant selling a Czech beer. Heading east down Old Street we come across Five Hundred K Bar in Chapel Place, a café/bar. Further down at 354 is El Paso, a restaurant and Margarita Bar. Opposite is Cocomo, 323 Old Street a bar/coffee shop/restaurant. Not far away in EC2 is Jaego in Garden Walk and Belcourt, 22 Rivington Street which advertises itself as a bar/café/restaurant. Great Eastern Dining Room, 54 Great Eastern Street is new eating hole whilst the Propaganda Bar, 89 Great Eastern Street was formerly Thackers Wine Bar and work seems to be going on inside. Andronicas seems to have become the Shoreditch Eating House (93 Great Eastern Street). Opposite at 84 is the Foundry. Nearby is the Firehouse Restaurant and Wine Bar Click here for a photo and as the name suggests it is housed in a former fire station at the meeting of Paul and Tabernacle Streets (Paul Square?).
Since this was written the Five Hundred K Bar is now called Mybar, Jaego is now Trams (30 Rivington Street) and Belcourt seems to be just a cafe. The Propaganda Bar is now called Katabatic and the Shoreditch Eating House is closed. I noticed in passing that the old Pitfield Brewery premises is now a bar called Liquid though it didn't seem open when I passed it one lunchtime.
Now you know why I don't like reporting the opening of wine bar/cafe bars etc. But what do you think. Should I? Let me have your views and I will post them onto the web. Two others to mention are the Well (many many years ago was the George I think at 180 St John Street) Click here for a photo and the adjcent Mint. Click here for a photo Both are on a corner of Compton Street and St John Street EC1. Nearby on the site of the demolished St John of Jerusalem the construction of living accommodation is underway. The site once housed the Cannon Brewery until brewing ceased in 1955.
News from Andrew Clifton is Pennant Inns pubs offered for sale. These are: The Fountain, 211 Lower Clapton Road, Clapton E5, White Horse, 9-11 Poplar High Street, Poplar E14, The Royal Oak, 67 Barking Road, Plaistow E13.
In June 2001
The Royal Oak mentioned above is in E16 not E13. Add the Golden Lion E13 to the list of Pennant Inns.
Anyone know anything about the Old Monk Co buying or the whereabouts of Harry's Bar in the Isle of Dogs. This item was noticed in the Evening Standard who tell us they have increased their pubs to 40. The Old Monk Co, not the Standard!
EC1 Rumours that O'Hanlons was to be renamed were unfounded once the signwriters art was applied.
The Bear, formerly Blakes, The Square, No.2 the Square and originally the Coach & Horses (St Johns Sq) is run by Geronimo Inns who also run the Figurehead in Customer House Hotel Victoria Dock Road E16. Anyone know of this one mentioned in the Evening Standards Hot Tickets magazine?
Two new bars have sprung up with the demise of the Roseberry in Exmouth Street. At number 55 is Bar Mezé at 43b is Cafe Kick Sport Bar.
In Carthusian Street next to the Sutton Arms is the Spirit Bar.
EC2 The Liquid Lab is a new bar at 20 City Road.
E2 Two pubs proclaim being under new management. The Earl Grey and the Angel and Crown. Both believe in karaoke. Novel way to empty a pub, at least for those of us that cannot even stand the songs sung by the recording artist let alone the local 'Frankie'. Neither pub is a hotbed of real ale that I know of.
In July 2001
E12 Burnell Arms is still keg but the handpumps have been removed.
E15 The Yorkshire Grey (Old Log Cabin) has its freehold for sale. Spread Eagle is still keg.
Colin Price's early morning tour of EC1 has revealed the following:
6am COCK: Courage Best (Youngs not on)
6.30am NEWMARKET: Greene King IPA and London Pride.
7am FOX & ANCHOR: Tetley (London Pride and Adnams not on).
In November 2001
Bars are again sprouting in EC2. The Shoreditch Eating House (93 Great Eastern Street) mentioned above is now Grand Central. An All Bar One has appeared at 18-20 Appold Street. In Curtain Road at 120-124 Is the Strongroom Bar, at 97-113 is Spots a bar and restaurant and The Pool (no handpumps) is opposite at number 110-??2, someone has smashed two of the digits! Anyway it's on the corner of Bateman Road. The Crosby Head now seems to be named Bar 150 says the chalk on the blackboard. Everything apparently is priced at 150p. EC3 Colin Price reports The Pitcher and Piano at Fenchurch St has applied for a midnight licence. E2 East Chinese Restaurant and Bar in Kingsland Rd late licence but no further details. Called East Bar, is at 58 and serves no real ale. Bottles of Chinese beer if you so desire.
In January 2002
The Sun E2 underwent a refurb just before Christmas. The St Paul's Tavern EC1 had the same just after and the pub sign bears a capital H for Hogshead though it is still called the St Paul's Tavern. Another bar has opened up, this time in Hackney Road. Called the Gallery Bar. It's at 291. Another mentioned in the Barcode section of Evening Standards Hot Ticket magazine is Nylon at 1 Addle Street EC2 (0207600 7771) It's open Mon-Fri 12-11. Sells draught and bottled beers from St Peters?
In February 2002
EC1 New Wetherspoons to be opened at the corner of Farringdon Road and Ray Street? Further news is that maybe not.
Buy the new book on East End pubs "The Traditional Pubs of Londons East End (in 2000) by JP Hughes, £4 incl p&p cheques to JP Hughes, PO box124, Cheltenham GL51 6ZG. Describes the interiors of over 250 pubs in Tower Hamlets. Katabatic (click here for earlier mention) is now the Medicine Bar. Needed to know that didn't you?
E2 Pickles in Hackney Road is undergoing work. The Victoria is selling GK Abbot (180p) and IPA whilst the British Lion advertises John Smiths Yorkshire Bitter at 160p.
In March 2002
EC1 Shakespeares Head: Percival St. Lack of handpumps noted. Rumour has it that the Stick & Weasle now has a silly name and only sells London Pride. Progress Bar?
The Lord Rookwood 314 Cann Hall Road E11 has jazz on twice a month. Next do is April 23. News of real ale anyone.
In April 2002
The magazine Webuser in April listed 10 beer related websites. Pity that most of them were American. http://www.belgianexperts.com/index.htm was as you would expect to do with beer from Belgium as well as cooking. http://www.beerisgoodforyou.com is handy but only for beer related quotes. http://beerpal.com does not list any British brewers if you ask it to search for real ale! It does have a new jokes section and here is one of the four listed: " After the Great Britain Beer Festival, in London, all the brewery presidents decided to go out for a beer. The guy from Corona sits down and says, "Hey Senor, I would like the world's best beer, a Corona." The bartender dusts off a bottle from the shelf and gives it to him. The guy from Budweiser says, "I'd like the best beer in the world, give me 'The King Of Beers', a Budweiser." The bartender gives him one. The guy from Coors says, "I'd like the only beer made with Rocky Mountain spring water, give me a Coors." He gets it. The guy from Guinness sits down and says, "Give me a Coke." The bartender is a little taken aback, but gives him what he ordered. The other brewery presidents look over at him and ask "Why aren't you drinking a Guinness?" and the Guinness president replies, "Well, I figured if you guys aren't drinking beer, neither would I."
Webuser might have been better off with Roger Protz www.protzonbeer.com
or Michael Jackson. www.beerhunter.com
Or The Web Directory of British Beer and Brewing www.greatbritishbeer.co.uk
or http://www.beermad.org.uk
The CAMRA site came in fifth of the ten beating www.hungover.net, www.stellaartois.com, www.ucl.ac.uk/~ccaajpa/beer-records.html, www.beerlovercam.com (see some beer in a fridge) and http://members.ozemail.com.au/~beercanologist/index.html.
The April 24 edition of the Evening Standard carried extracts from the sauceguide to Pubs & Bars. Available from WH Smith, Borders, Tower Records, Waitrose and selcted newsagents it costs £4.97. The extracts for our area was: EC1 The Peasant. Whilst it lists real ales as 2 the notes say "you may be a tad disappointed with the limited beers and no ale" Website www.thepeasant.co.uk
St John 26 St John St has 2 real ales and "serves some of the best food in the area". E1 Prospect of Whitby also lists real ales as 2. In EC2 Sosho (2a Tabernacle Street) has no real ales but has "some great bottled beers". Housed in a former photographic studio. Website www.matchbar.com. Vertigo, Tower 42 Old Broad Street is a Champagne only bar on the 42nd floor. www.tower42.com
E14 Tollesbury Barge has two real ales one of which is Adnams.
In August 2002
A distinct lack of news since May! Colin Price informed me that Coronet E15 (Lord Henneker) was up for auction on 8/7/2002. Guide price £600,000 by www.strettons.co.uk. Time Out reported the Tollesbury Barge, Millwall Inner Dock, Marsh Wall E14 has one real beer usually Harveys. Opens Mon Sat 11-11 May close early. Sun 12-7.
According to 18/7/2002 Eve Standard Hot Tickets magazine Pg 38, 202 Bishopsgate EC2 ( formerly Bill Bentleys Wine Bar Youngs) is now Boisdale of Bishopsgate open 11.30am to 11pm 020-7283-1763 This is a Scottish style restaurant and bar. Only one beer is on Boddingtons not said if it is real or not. Medcalf 40 Exmouth Market EC1 this was a butchers but a licence has been applied for.
E18 The Napier Arms lease is for sale.
E2 According to Time Out two pubs in Bethnal Green open at 8am on Sunday morning. They are the Royal Oak in Columbia Rd and the Carpenters Arms in Cheshire St.
EC1 Crown, Clerkenwall Green has reopened 3 real ales on including Adnams Bitter Pride. Duke of Wellington 14 contemporary apartments now being built on the site. London Spa upstairs is now 6 one bedroom flats but a late licence has been applied for the ground floor No indication as to is this is for Youngs or not. Penny Black is now 2 two bedroom flats but no indication as to if this is the whole pub or if some of the pub will be left and re licensed like the Spa. The Betsy Trotwood is being transformed into a live music venue by the same person who transformed "The Twelve Bar" club on Denmark Street. The basement will be kitted up with hi-tech microphones etc, while upstairs will be much as before. The music venue opens in September.
In September 2002
EC1 Early morning pubs HOPE:Opens 7am Youngs Bitter, Youngs Special. FOX & ANCHOR:Opens 7am alternates Adnams Bitter and Fullers London Pride. Cock Tavern opens Mon Wed 6am 4pm. Thurs/Fri 6.am 11pm. Closed all weekend the pub advertises itself as a Euro-free zone sterling only accepted. Flowers IPA has replaced Young IPA. New Market Tavern opens Wed 6.30am 4.30pm Thurs/Fri 6.30am 11pm. Has new management. Fullers London Pride and Adnams Bitter. Beer quality has improved. E15 Railway Tavern Angel Lane still uses 6.30am to 8.30 pm licence Greene king IPA on handpump. O'Hanlons has stopped breakfast opening now opens 11am . Exmouth Arms opens at 9am for breakfast. from 9am to 11am it is necessary to have breakfast to have a drink.
Metcalf 40 Exmouth Market. This is an empty shop with an empty shop next door at 38. There is a licence application and a planning application attached for a Metcalf Bar at 38-40 but work has not started yet. Penny Black and London Spa both pubs are closed for conversion to residential accommodation although there is a possibility (emphasise possibility) of the ground floor being kept as a bar. Work is still continuing. Betsy Trotwood opens 8am for coffee and croissants but no alcohol until 11am live goups some evenings. There is a licence application at 4 West Smithfield EC1 (next to the Living Roon bar) for the 4play bar.
The Evening Standard Hot Tickets Thursday editions giveaway is now Metro Life. It still carries a section on bars. The first edition mentions Bonds in Threadneedles Hotel, 5 Threadneedle Street EC2. No real ales mentioned though bottled beers from five countries are sold. Local bars are listed as Corney & Barrow, 19 Broadgate Circle which I suspect is a wine bar. Le Coq d'Argent, 1 Poultry which I supect is more of a restuarant. Twentyfour, Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street (see notes for April 2002) and the Jamaica Wine House which we know to be a bar.
E2 Pickles in Hackney Road is now for sale as a bar/restaurant. The Angel & Crown is under new management and will open shortly. See June 2001, karoke not the answer then? Edition two of Metro Life mentions to other bars not previously heard of: The Elbow Room has pool tables and is in Curtain Road (0207 729 8265) and Cargo a cafe bar cum DJ club 83 Rivington Street (0207 749 7844). Also mentioned is the Great Eastern Dining Rooms (see Feb 2001 entry) as a relaxed loft-style bar/restaurant with late-night basement and address appears to be 54/56 Great Easterns Street (0207 613 4545). All are in EC2.
In November 2002
All EC1 Extra Time, with a late licence to 2am Thursday, Friday and Saturday, specialises in private parties and is just around the corner from Barbican Tube near to Smithfield Market. At 1 Long Lane, London EC1A 9HA. Tel: 0207 726 8292 Fax: 0207 726 8294 www.extratimebar.co.uk
Penny Black upstairs floors have been converted into flats thta are now occupied Nothing has happened to the ground floor yet and the bar is still there
Metcalf 40 and 38 Exmouth Market. 2 closed shops still nothing happening here despite planning application and licence application for a bar
London Spa now Don Pedros Tapas Bar. supposed to be open on Monday night but was shut when I went past at 8-30 Doubt if any real ale
In January 2003
Barong (0207 490 7407)go to previous mention is now a restaurant call Bod. It also has a takeaway section named Bodta - or was it Bodtg? The only pub in the last ten of the Evening Standard Pub of the Year for East London is the Florists Arms in E2. The Three Tuns in Jewry EC3 has been named something Irish though what I cannot remember (It was Hennessys). Bow E3: Two former pubs undergoing work are the Ranelagh and the John Bull. So much so at the John Bull that part of the building fell into the road!
In March 2003
E1 Leman Street seems a bit of a nightmare to drink in. The Dispensary sold a rather flat Ridleys IPA though it was supposed to be fresh on and the Adnams Bitter was cloudy. The Mr Pickwicks was worse with pints of Greene King IPA that had to be returned. Nobody liked the Courage Best either.
In April 2003
www.yell.com seems to be a source of information on pubs. You can search for public houses by postcode or opt for East London etc. Fairways is one pub they list though I've never seen it mentioned anywhere. Southend Road Chingford E4 (02085279892) though Captain Pubwatch has visited it and it appears to be an Irish house. Also mentioned are some name changes; in E9 the Alexandra is now BRB at the Alex whilst in E8 the Earl Amhurst is listed as District and Duke of Sussex the Overdraught.
Five Hundred K bar is now Caffe D'art. go to previous mention320 Old Street appears to be the correct address and no longer is a bar.
In August 2003
The Marquis of Cornwallis (E2) has it's lease for sale. Neither the pub nor the Bethnal Green are have been a hot bed of real ale. Mybar/Jaego/Trams is now Rivington Bar, Restaurant, Deli go to previous mention
In September 2003
Cat & Mutton E9 has the scaffolding up. Jam is a new keg bar on the corner of Shoreditch High Street and Old Street (diagonally opposite Browns E2). EC1 Bod mentioned in January 2003 is closed.
In October 2003
E2 Marquis of Cornwallis lease for sale again.
EC1 RISING SUN has Sam Smiths signs removed.
In May 2004
EC1 Bar Med: Refurbished in May and reopened and rename Context.
EC1 Gluepot-Nelsons Retreat:Closed for a refurb in May
EC1 Liquid Lab in City Road is closed and will reopen as an Indian Restaurant.
EC1 Rising Sun: See above. Still selling Sam Smiths OBB at 164p a pint
EC1 Stick & Weasle - City Arms - Progress Bar: Closed for a refurb in May and will reopen as Offside - gallery/bar/agency.
EC1 Surprise: Pub lease for sale.
E2 Camdens Head: For sale by Wetherspoon and under offer.
E4 Epping Forest Council have granted planning permission for Royal Oak (Venners) Sewardstone Road to be knocked down and a nursing home built on the site. This means that the only pub left in the Essex bit of E4 is the Plough.
E17 White Swan: possible conversion to flats if planning permission granted?
In August 2004
EC1 Barong, see January 2003 is no more. Will reopen as a Starbucks which may worry the Manhattan Coffee shop opposite. No need for the six empty Interbrew barrel in the window.
Perseverence Vicarage Lane E6
on a Newham council web site
Application No.: P/03/1843
Ward: East Ham South
Location: 33 Vicarage Lane, and land adj 2-4 Telham Road, E6
Planning Officer: Sunil Sahadevan
Proposal: Change of use of existing building and new 3 storey building o Vicarage Lane and new 1/3 storey building on Telham Road to provide a community facility for support of disadvantaged youn people, including supported accommodation (14 bed spaces), sho and self-contained residential accommodation on two floors
Applicant: Transformation Powerhouse 33 Vicarage Lane East Ham London E6
Agent: ATP Group Partnership (ref 03.204) Brook House Coventry Road Ilford, Essex IG1 4QR E10 Three Blackbirds: Least for sale.
Check this link out for the pubs of Epping http://www.eppingmapproject.org.uk/inns.htm and this one for derelict pubs http://www.sff.net/people/chris.amies/lastorders/index.html
Also www.derelictlondon.com and www.thederelictsensation.com
In September 2004
Anyone know of a pub for sale in E17? I have been contacted for information on any pub tenancies. If you know of one then contact Keith.
Here's a some pub selling sites http://www.pubs2let.co.uk/freehold/free_main1.html
http://www.christie.com/christie/splash.asp
www.Fleurets.com
www.agg.uk.com
In November 2005
Seems there has been nothing to report for over a year. One of the main reasons I don't report the opening of keg bars, because I don't know of one that opened keg then went real despite the potential. They are the wine bars of today. The other reason is that the work involved with the constant name changes. Barong became a Starbucks and its takeaway shop is now an unamed cellar bar 104 Old Street. Andronicas-Shoreditch Eating House-Grand Central is currently closed (93 Gt Eastern St EC2). E2 The O2 Brasserie is now Green & Red. E17 The Chestnut Tree is closed for refurbishment of a major kind but will reopen as a pub.