August 2024 news

Here's an update on the latest news and information from West London branch of CAMRA.

Branch events

Why not join us on one of our branch socials or meetings? We'd love to see you! Here is a list of our events:

• August

  • Tue 6 (2pm) Covent Garden social: meet Nags Head, James St, WC2E 8BT

  • Wed 14 (from 7pm) London Pubs Group tour of Belgravia: meet Fox & Hounds, 29 Passmore St, Belgravia, SW1W 8HR. Then Antelope, Star Tavern, Grenadier, Nags Head. (CAMRA London Pubs Group event)

  • Mon 19 (2pm) Social: Kings Head, Hogarth Place, SW5 0QT

• September

  • Tues 3 (7pm) Paddington social: meet Mad Bishop & Bear, Paddington Station (upper level) W2 1HB

  • Tues 17 (7/730pm) Branch Mtg: Antelope (upstairs), Eaton Terrace, SW1W 8EZ

  • Mon 23 (2pm) Hammersmith social: meet Blue Boat, Parrs Way, W6 9RU

Regional CAMRA news and events

• London Pubs Group continues its tours of historic pubs - for information see https://londonpubsgroup.camra.org.uk/events. Upcoming events: Wed 14 (from 7pm) tour of Belgravia: meet Fox & Hounds, 29 Passmore St, Belgravia, SW1W 8HR. Then Antelope, Star Tavern, Grenadier, Nags Head.
• Our neighbouring branches have regular socials and other events - for information see the websites of East London and City, North London, South East London, South West London, and West Middlesex. See the London CAMRA website for links to other Greater London branches.
• The August/September issue of London Drinker is now available in pubs across London and online at https://londondrinker.camra.org.uk/wordpress/ with details of CAMRA and beer related events across London, pub and brewery news, and more.

Other local real ale events

Here are a selection of local events which promote real ale but are not organized by CAMRA. Please check the relevant websites to confirm details.

• Sat 3 & Sun 4 Aug (from noon) Mini-Woodfest: at the Ye Olde Mitre, 1 Ely Ct, Ely Pl, EC1N 6SJ over 3 & 4 August run by the SPBW. To guarantee entry to a session it is advisable to buy in advance a £5 beer token from the SPBW Online Shop or at the bar at ‘Ye Olde Mitre’. See the SPBW website for more information.
• Fri 23 & Sat 24 Aug: Big Swig beer festival, the Big Penny Social, E17
• Fri 30 Aug to Sun 1 Sep (from 3pm Fri): West London Trades Union Club at 33 Acton High Street W3 6ND will be hosting the first Acton Real Ale Festival. Sat & Sun noon-11pm.

Pub and brewery news

• SW1, OTHERWORLD, Nova, 85 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1E 5LB. Reported closed by Propel News 28 June 2024, along with sister sites in Hackney & Birmingham, due to cost pressures.

• SW1, RED LION (Fuller's), 48 Parliament Street, SW1A 2NH. Offers 10% off real ales to card carrying CAMRA members.

• SW1, RED LION (Fuller's), 2 Duke of York Street, SW1Y 6JP. 10% off real ales to card carrying CAMRA members reinstated.

• SW1, STAR TAVERN (Grosvenor Estates/Fuller Smith & Turner/Fuller's), 6 Belgrave Mews West, SW1X 8HT. Discount confirmed as 15% off real ales to card carrying CAMRA members.

• SW3, PIG'S EAR, 35 Old Church Street, SW3 5BS. Real Ale status confirmed as selling Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter.

• SW6, TEMPERANCE (Wellington/Stonegate/Stonegate (formerly Ei Group)), 90 Fulham High Street, SW6 3LF. As of early 2024 it was reported that the venue no longer sold any real ale.

• W1, ALBERT'S SCHLOSS, 20-24 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EU. Named after Prince Albert, this venue is part of the Trocadero revamp, and the fourth and biggest of the Alpine-inspired beer hall, bar and restaurant concept with sister sites in Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool. Formerly the Rainforest Cafe, it’s a £7m+ site set over two floors with 18,000 square feet of space and with room for more than 600 guests. There are five bars, a stage for live performances and an on-site bakery for Bavarian treats. Entertainment includes the Berlin 1920s-inspired Kunst Cabaret. The bars include a schnapps bar, and Ludwig’s Tavern on a raised stage overlooking the proceedings. The ground-floor Schenke Tavern is open every day from 9am. Pilsner Urquell is served from tanks and there are also all of Munich’s "Big Six" biers.

• W1, BBC CLUB W1. Relocated from nearby to the main BBC building in April 2024, and now sharing the Media Cafe space overlooking the newsroom. Audience members attending the Radio Theatre can now enjoy the two cask ales prior to shows.

• W1, HENRY'S CAFE BAR (Stonegate), 80 Piccadilly, W1J 8HX. Closed, future uncertain. The freeholder, Relsa Stratton Establishment, has now transferred the license into their name.

• W1, RED, 5 Kingly Street, W1B 5PF. Reopened as CAHOOTS TICKET HALL. Now a new 1940s-style pub from Inception Group, above the group’s pre-existing Underground and Signal Station cocktail bar areas. Period features include a tartan carpet and wallpaper, wood panelling and a coin-operated jukebox on the bar. There is a large outdoor terrace on Kingly Street. Cocktails include a Winston Churchill and a Vera Lynn in keeping with the 1940s theme. Some draught beers available. The food offering is small plates and nibbles.

• W1, SIX STOREYS (Amsprop Ltd), 11 Soho Square, W1D 3QE. Change of use granted to convert to members club.

• W2, CLEVELAND ARMS (Market Taverns), 28 Chilworth Street, W2 6DT. Real Ale reinstated:- Dark Star Hophead and Timothy Taylor Landlord plus a guest ale.

• W6, RICHMOND (Greene King), 55 Shepherds Bush Road, W6 7LU. Leased pub, no longer sells real ale.

• W8, KENSINGTON WINE ROOMS, 127-129 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LP. Closed, expected to reopen as The Blue Stoops pub in September 2024.

• W11, E & O, 14 Blenheim Crescent, W11 1NN. Closed, future uncertain.

• W14, CROWN & SCEPTRE (Heineken), 34 Holland Road, W14 8BA. Real Ale reinstated - Greene King Abbot.

• W14, KEEP OF BROOK GREEN (Heineken), 43 Blythe Road, W14 0HR. Renamed BIDDY MULLIGAN'S. No longer sells real ale.

• WC2, NELL OF OLD DRURY (Stonegate), 29 Catherine Street, WC2B 5JS. Converted to tenanted "Pretty Witty Pub Company Ltd", CAMRA discount no longer available.

• WC2, ROUND HOUSE (Fuller's), 1 Garrick Street, WC2E 9AR. 10% off real ales to card carrying CAMRA members reinstated.

• ARIADNE'S NEKTAR BAR, Latimer Road. The MyLondon website reports there has been a planning application submitted to reopen this pub (which closed in 2020), under the name The Volunteer (it had been named The British Volunteer).

National CAMRA news

• More national CAMRA news and events can be found in CAMRA's online newspaper What's Brewing available at https://wb.camra.org.uk/.
• CAMRA also regularly produces a podcast 'Pubs. Pints. People' available at https://camra.org.uk/podcast/.
• The Good Beer Guide 2024 is now on sale at https://shop1.camra.org.uk/product-the-good-beer-guide-2024/. There is also a mobile friendly online Good Beer Guide app available at https://goodbeerguide.org.uk/.

For the latest news check out our Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) pages. Also for news from CAMRA across London see London Drinker, and the London CAMRA Facebook page.