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

Branch and other local CAMRA events

• October

  • Wed 11 2pm Afternoon social Coach and Horses, Greek Street W1D 5DH

  • Mon 23 2pm Champion W2 4LW ; 3pm Prince Edward, Princes Square.

• November

  • Mon 6 7pm Theodore Bullfrog WC2N 6HL; 8 pm Princess of Wales, Villiers Street; 9pm Ship and Shovel, Craven Passage.

  • Tues 14 (7 for 7.30pm) Branch Meeting: Antelope SW1W 8EZ

  • Tues 21 (2pm) Afternoon Social , Jackalope W1G 7EQ

Branch and regional CAMRA news

• London Pubs Group continues its tours of historic pubs - for information see https://londonpubsgroup.camra.org.uk/events. Upcoming events: Saturday 14 October 2023 - Daytime Tour of Chiswick Park and Turnham Green; Wednesday 6 December 2023 - Evening Tour of Paddington and Maida Vale; June 2024 [exact date TBC] - Daytime tour of Rotherhithe and Bermondsey.
• The October/November 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.
• The Hope, Carshalton was awarded regional pub of the year.

 Pub and brewery news

• The Tom Cribb, Panton Street has reopened after a refurbishment.
• The former KPH (Kensington Park Hotel) has reopened as Knight of Notting Hill. It's the second free house pub from Zora Singh, who also opened Three Falcons in St John's Wood. At time of writing, it doesn't appear to serve real ale.
• NW1, PERSEVERANCE (Morgana Ltd (IOM)), 11 Shroton Street, NW1 6UG. Reopened in late August mainly a cocktail bar but also sells some keg beers. The old central bar has now become a semi-circular bar on the edge of room. It is understood that food will be available shortly.
• SW1, BAY & BRACKET (Benesco Charity Ltd/Stonegate), 17-19 Artillery Row, SW1P 1RH. No longer Cask Marque accredited.
• SW1, CHELSEA PENSIONER (Wellington), 358 Fulham Road, SW10 9UU. Renamed CHELSEA GATE. Keg beers, no real ale.
• SW1, GRENADIER (Grosvenor Estate/Greene King), 18 Wilton Row, SW1X 7NR. In 2023 the operator became Ineos 123, a company manufacturing the Grenadier Ineos car marque; it is sub-leasing from Greene King.
• SW7, EASTSIDE RESTAURANT & BAR (Imperial College), Ground Floor, Eastside House, Prince's Gardens, SW7 1AZ. Handpump removed during COVID.
• W1, BURGER & LOBSTER, 29 Clarges Street, W1J 7EQ. Handpump removed.
• W1, DEVONSHIRE ARMS (Heineken/Only Pub Co London), 7 Duke Street, W1U 3EE. Now Cask Marque accredited .
• W1, DUCHESS (Stonegate), 39 Duke Street, W1U 1LP. Now Cask Marque accredited .
• W1, DUCK & RICE (Shaftesbury/Stonegate), 90 Berwick Street, W1F 0QB. No real ale.
• W1, LONDON GIN CLUB (Inception Group), 22 Great Chapel Street, W1F 8FR. Renamed MR FOGG'S HAT TAVERN & GIN CLUB. is one of the growing Mr Fogg's chain of themed bars, largely cocktail bars but this one does sell some draught keg beers
• W1, MADDOX TAVERN, 47 Maddox Street, W1S 2PG. Closed, reason unknown.
• W1, O'NEILL'S (Shaftesbury/M&B), 37-38 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JF. No longer sells real ale.
• W1, SHIP, 134 New Cavendish Street, W1W 6YB. No longer sells real ale.
• W1, YORKSHIRE GREY (Samuel Smith), 46 Langham Street, W1W 7AX. No longer sells real ale.
• W1, ZIGGY GREEN (Crown Estate/Daisy Green), 1 Heddon Street, W1B 4BD. Closed for relocation.
• W11, WALMER CASTLE (M&B), 58 Ledbury Road, W11 2AJ. Closed for refurbishment. It is understood that the site will reopen by the end of 2023.
• W12, DEFECTOR'S WELD (Young's), 170 Uxbridge Road, W12 8AA. Closed for various works, reopening in late November 2023.
• W12, W12 STUDIOS (BBC), 195 Wood Lane, W12 7FQ. Reopened as DEAR GRACE. Keg beer.
• W14, CLARENCE (RedCat), 148 North End Road, W14 9PP. Freehold sold to Opticrealm Developments.
• W2, MAD BISHOP & BEAR (Fuller's), Upper Level, The Lawn, Paddington Station Concourse, W2 1HB. Real cider found Harry's Haymaker. CAMRA discount reduced to a still reasonable 15%.
• W2, SMITH'S BAR & GRILL, 25 Sheldon Square, W2 6EY. No real ale.
• W6, ANDOVER ARMS (Fuller’s), 57 Aldensley Road, W6 0DL. No longer Cask Marque accredited.
• W6, DISTILLERS (Fuller's), 64 Fulham Palace Road, W6 9PH. 10% off all draft beers and ciders.
• W6, OLD CITY ARMS (Stonegate), 107 Hammersmith Bridge Road, W6 9DA. Converted to managed. Now Cask Marque accredited. Real ales: Pride and Doom Bar.
• W9, HERO OF MAIDA (Maida Vale Leisure Ltd/Harcourt Inns), 55 Shirland Road, W9 2JD. Closed – reason unknown.
• WC2, CHESHIRE CHEESE (Shepherd Neame/Blighty Pub Company), 5 Little Essex Street, WC2R 3LD. No longer sells real ale.
• WC2, ROYAL GEORGE (M&B), 133 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0EA. Real Ale reinstated:- St Austell Tribute.

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.

Here's an update on the latest news and information from West London branch of CAMRA. Further news can be found in the London Drinker.

Branch and other local CAMRA events

• Monday 24th July - Branch social. Uxbridge Arms, Uxbridge St W8 7TQ 7pm, Hillgate, Hillgate Street, 8pm; Churchill Arms 9pm.
• 1 to 5 August - Great British Beer Festival - CAMRA's main national beer festival, held within the branch area at Olympia. As always it will have an amazing selection of beers and ciders, plus food stalls and entertainment! Find out more at https://gbbf.org.uk/.
• Tuesday 15th August: Afternoon social - Cask Pub & Kitchen (SW1V 2EE) 2pm
• Tuesday 5th September: Afternoon social - Metropolitan Bar (NW1 5LA) 2pm
• Tuesday 19th September: Branch Meeting - Speaker (SW1P 2HA) 7pm for 7.30pm
• Monday 25th September: Evening Soho social - meet at Shaston Arms (W1F 7QN) 7pm, moving on to Shakespeare's Head, Great Marlborough St 8pm; Clachan, Kingly St 9pm.

Branch and regional CAMRA news

• London Pubs Group continues its tours of historic pubs - for information see https://londonpubsgroup.camra.org.uk/events. Upcoming events: Wednesday 9 August 2023 - Evening Tour of Mayfair; Saturday 14 October 2023 - Daytime Tour of Chiswick Park and Turnham Green; Wednesday 6 December 2023 - Evening Tour (area TBD).
• The London Drinker is available with news about pubs and CAMRA, in print at many local pubs and online.

 Pub and brewery news

• Wetherspoons have applied for planning permission to open a pub at 11 Strand, near Covent Garden.
• The Tom Cribb, Panton Street closed for a refurbishment. It is due to reopen mid September.
• The Cheshire Cheese, Milford Lane (south of Strand, not to be confused with the nearby Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet St!) stopped selling real ale in about June, with no immediate plans to reintroduce it.
• Works to convert the Old Suffolk Punch, Fulham Palace Rd, Hammersmith to a hotel appear to be in progress. The plans include a replacement pub at ground floor level.
• The Hero of Maida pub is closed.
• SW1, MOO CANTINA ARGENTINA, 43 Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V 2TA. Closed - future uncertain.
• SW7, IMPERIAL COLLEGE UNION BARS (Imperial College), Beit Quadrangle, Prince Consort Road, SW7 2BB. No longer Cask Marque accredited.
• W1, MARKET PLACE, 11 Market Place, W1W 8AH. Renamed OXFORD MARKET.
• W1, RUNNING HORSE (Grosvenor Estates), 50 Davies Street, W1K 5JE. Closed as part of major redevelopment. The Running Horse Pub will remain at the corner of Davies Street and Davies Mews undergoing renovation works to repair its historic features as well as creating guest bedrooms in existing rooms on the upper floors.
• W1, MR FOGG’S HAT TAVERN & GIN CLUB 22 Great Chapel Street, W1F 8FR. Part of the growing Mr Fogg’s chain of themed cocktail bars run by Inception Group, but this one does sell some draught keg beers. The site is very close to the former Henry Heath top-hat factory and the venue has hats on display. Formerly London Gin Club.
• W2, STABLEHAND, 4 Bathurst Street, W2 2SD. This is a new gastropub in the former Hall & Woodhouse Archery Tavern which closed at the start of 2006 when the lease ran out. The site dates from 1839 and the old pub was named after the archery range on which it was built. The site then became a restaurant. The food offering includes Sunday roasts. At the date of our visit, soon after opening, the handpumps were as yet unused and an ale cask was available on stillage.
• W6, RAVEN (Trust Inns/MC Bars Ltd/MC Bars), 375 Goldhawk Road, W6 0SA. No longer Cask Marque accredited.
• W8, UXBRIDGE ARMS (Stonegate), 13 Uxbridge Street, W8 7TQ. Appears to have reverted to tenanted.
• WC2, MARQUESS OF ANGLESEY (Young's), 39 Bow Street, WC2E 7AU. Reopened following refurbishment. Ale range reported reduced.
• WC2, NELL OF OLD DRURY (Stonegate), 29 Catherine Street, WC2B 5JS. Sign on the bar advertising 10% discount for CAMRA members

National CAMRA news

• The Great British Beer Festival will be at Olympia on 1 to 5th August 2023.
• 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/.

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

On 19th June the West London branch attended the presentation of the runners up award for West London CAMRA branch pub of the year to the Victoria, Strathearn Place, Paddington. Chris enthusiastically accepted the award, in a very busy pub, and proudly announced he was going to add it to the collection of second place awards the pub has already been awarded. It had previously been runner-up in 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2022!

The pub is also one of CAMRA's Real Heritage Pubs with a very rare and wonderful mid-Victorian interior. It offers a selection of Fuller's beers plus a guest beer and meals, and a warm welcome!

We welcome a new chairman of the branch, Wanda Piontek. She was elected at our annual general meeting held in May at The Star Tavern, Belgravia.

She told us about how her love of real ale began: "My introduction to ale started with Ruddles County and the funny shaped bottles. At university I moved to the Marstons heartland and innumerable pints of Pedigree were sunk. Moving to Japan Yebisu became the drink of choice. My return to England coincided with a vast improvement to the range of ales available and I have been able to indulge my love of stout and porters".

We'd like to also thank our previous chairman Alex Langford for all his work for the branch. He'll continue to play an important role supporting the branch as our vice-chairman.