Randomness Guide to London

We have a rather pub-heavy week of updates this week!



Featured article is The Prince Albert, SE18 6NE, a pub in Woolwich which often goes by the name "Rose's". It's a single-room pub, it does crusty rolls, you'll get a pint of real ale, and it's proper trad.

New articles are: The Rochester Castle (the "Roch" if you live nearby) in London's trendy Stoke Newington, a classic 'Spoons and the oldest one that's still part of the chain (also one of the few that's in an actual pub building). There's also the Dalston branch of the Diner chain, which does the usual 50s Americana vibe with a menu to match, though it seems pricy.

Reported closures are The Cock Tavern under Smithfield Market (this one closed over a year ago apparently), and The Tamworth Arms in Croydon. The latter was a lovely old traditional Young's house, though I wouldn't be surprised if it reappears with a major facelift, as per other pubs in that chain (see the featured article from two weeks' ago). We also believe that Na Pura Portuguese cafe in Nunhead has closed.

On the plus side of the ledger, The Railway in West Hampstead has reopened following a period of refurbishment.

Finally, there are updates to two more pubs after recent visits: the weirdly sanitised and family-friendly The Dulwich Wood House in Sydenham; and The Old Orchard in Harefield, which has big terraces and beautiful views.

Hello friends! Welcome to a new edition of RGL updates.



The featured article this week is the Imperial War Museum, more than just a collection of militaristic trinkets of imperialist conquest, though you know, there's that. Actually it's a very engaging museum that surveys all of the worst of humanity but in an interesting way.

There's a new article in the form of unspectacular high street pub The Duke of York, just off Oxford Street and Bond Street in Mayfair. And a second for Scnitzel Chicken and More, an Israeli restaurant in West Hampstead, which you would visit if you felt like schnitzel, or chicken, or chicken schnitzel.

Finally some lingering GBG 2015 pub updates: The Hare and Billet in Blackheath featuring mislabelled stew and Belgian bottled beers; The Earl Haig, which is in Bexleyheath; The Door Hinge, a tiny Welling micropub, friendly and with ales on stillage by brewers you probably don't know; and The New Cross Turnpike, which is not in New Cross but also in Welling, a skylit Wetherspoons.

Hello! This month's featured article is The George, NW3 2AE, which has been done up by Spirit Pub Co to be the first in a new premium brand. It sure is pretty posh, with blonde wood panelling and light from big open windows at the front and rear. That said, the food is overpriced and my burger was a bit disappointing. Still, there you go.

Lots of new additions, the first two in the Kilburn area. From there we have Barraco, a Brazilian restaurant, and The Carlton Tavern, an old man pub on the Maida Vale end. From Greenwich, there's Vietnam Oriental Cuisine, which despite the name is mainly Chinese. Finally, Rose Vegetarian in Kingsbury, which perhaps won't get you rushing out to visit Kingsbury, but if you're in the area, seems as good a bet as any.

Significant update to the entry for The Moon Under Water in Hounslow, which despite having been in many Good Beer Guides had remained a mere stub entry in RGL. Possibly because there's not much you can really say about yet another outpost of a Wetherspoons pub of this name.

Temporary closure for The Ladywell Tavern to do refurbishments.

Reported permanent closures are Elephant Walk, which was a fantastic Sri Lankan place in West Hampstead, and The Red Lion, a pub in Amersham (which by very few relevant criteria can actually be considered to be in London).

Finally, the Imperial War Museum has (mostly) reopened.