Good Beer Guide 1972

The first Good Beer Guide produced by CAMRA (then known as the Campaign for the Revitalisation of Ale) was in 1972.

This edition was very basic, consisting of typed, photocopied pages and was sold in pubs for 25p.

Of the 55 London entries only 2 were in SE London and sadly both have subsequently been demolished:

• Founders Arms, 56 Hopton St, SE1

  Then: "Youngs Special bitter only. Old London pub with honky-tonk piano."

  Now: The pub was demolished in the mid-1970s as part of the wider Bankside development which also saw additional land reclaimed from the River Thames, including the site of the present day Founder's Arms at 52 Hopton St which was built in 1976.

• Prince William Henry, 230 Blackfriars Rd, SE1

  Then: "Youngs bitter & mild. Present building due for demolition in 1973 - new pub opening nearby."

  Now: History subsequently repeated itself as the replacement pub that opened in 1975 was in turn demolished in 2024 as part of a wider site redevelopment.

View the original list of all London entries here.

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Good Beer Guide 1974

This was the first printed and bound edition of the Good Beer Guide which Waddington, who's managing director at the time was a fan of real ale, agreed to publish.

In the brewery section the initial description of Watney was "avoid like the plague".

Having delivered copies to CAMRA's 1974 AGM venue in York, the publisher then feared the Watney's comment may be libellous and so recalled the initial print-run.

Waddington agreed to reprint the Guide at their own expense and in the amended version the Watney description was revised to "avoid at all costs".

A few copies of the first print-run were seemingly 'accidentally' left behind at the 1974 AGM and so have survived.

Of the 11 entries within SE London, happily 7 are still operating, whilst 2 have been demolished and 2 changed to other uses:

Greenwich Borough

• British Oak, Old Dover Rd, SE3

  Then: "Courage (London). Old-style Courage pub."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Lord Clyde, Nightingale Place, SE18

  Then: "Charrington. Good beer and an interesting gent's toilet."

  Now: The pub was demolished in 2016 and replaced with a block of flats, initially containing a pub on the ground floor. However, the new pub remained vacant and in 2022 planning permission was granted to convert it to residential.

• Lord Derby, Griffin Rd, SE18

  Then: "Courage (London). Typical suburban pub."

  Now: This was the venue for the first ever meeting of our SE London CAMRA branch on 15 July 1974. Unfortunately the pub closed in 2009 and subsequently reopened as a restaurant.

• Plaisteds Wine House (Cooper's Arms), Woolwich High St, SE18

  Then: "Bass-Worthington; Younger. Television and a loud juke box."

  Now: The pub closed sometime around 2012 and has seen a number of alternative uses since.

• Union Tavern, Bunton St, SE18

  Then: "Charrington. A meeting place for beer enthusiasts."

  Now: The pub closed in 2003, was demolished in 2007 and replaced by a block of flats.

Lambeth Borough

• Royal Oak, Kennington Lane, SE11

  Then: "Bass-Worthington; Charrington. A good pub in a rather scruffy area."

  Now: The pub continues to trade but is now known as Mc & Sons.

• Tankard, Kennington Rd, SE11

  Then: "Charrington. A pub of Victorian proportions."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

Lewisham Borough

• Ladywell Tavern, Ladywell Rd, SE13

  Then: "Charrington. Small public bar with cosmopolitan clientele; conventional saloon bar. An ordinary pub."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Three Tuns, Tranquil Vale, SE3

  Then: "Charrington. Loads of character, though not of a sort which is to everyone's taste. Unlimited noise."

  Now: The pub continues to trade but is now known as O'Neill's.

Southwark Borough

• George, Borough High St, SE1

  Then: "Bass-Worthington. A real tourists' mecca this, on the itinerary of most visitors. Even so, excellent beer in good atmosphere. 200-year-old handpumps."

  Now: The pub continues to trade and, as London's last remaining galleried inn, is Grade I-listed.

• Horseshoe & Wheatsheaf, Melior St, SE1

  Then: "Bass-Worthington; Charrington. Very clean and friendly pub."

  Now: The pub continues to trade but is now known as the Horseshoe Inn.

(Last updated July 2026)

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