- ‘Royal London’ raises a toast to the capital -
- New ‘Capital Cask Ale Trail’ launched in historic pubs -

Greene King brewers have created a new cask beer, Royal London, to celebrate the country’s capital. It is available to savour in some of London’s most traditional and historic watering holes from tomorrow (Friday 21st August).

Royal London (4% abv) is rich, fruity and full of flavour, combining crystal malt with Challenger and Golding hops.

The launch is an integral part of Greene King’s new ‘Capital Cask Ale Trail’ – an exciting guide to help pub lovers discover some of the city’s most intriguing and charming London pubs.

Mike Fitzgerald, Greene King Pub operations director for London & South East says: “There really is huge excitement around cask beer at the moment. People are realising that it’s our national drink – and the only natural and fresh beer served in the pub. This enthusiasm is especially apparent in London as the record 64,000 attendees at the recent Great British Beer Festival at Earl’s Court testifies.

“A beer dedicated to London is of course a great pull for the city’s many tourists and visitors here on business. Britain’s cask beer is renowned the world over: it’s the jewel in London’s crown that everyone wants to experience.”

Pubs featured in the Ale Trail include The George at Southwark, a former haunt of Charles Dickens and The Sherlock Holmes in Westminster, home to memorabilia provided by the family of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There’s also the Old Tea Warehouse in Aldgate, former site of a monastery graveyard and the East India Tea Company. Film fans will no doubt be interested in visiting The New Moon originally an old coaching inn situated in London’s famous Leadenhall Market, the entrance to which has been used in several films including Tomb Raider, James Bond and Harry Potter.

Drinkers taking part in the ‘Capital Cask Ale Trail’ get their vouchers stamped by participating pubs every time they order a pint of Royal London or other Greene King cask beer. The completed voucher can then be exchanged for a free ‘Capital Cask Ale Trail’ T-shirt. Maps will be available in featured pubs.

Mike adds: “We’re very excited to showcase our new London brew, created with best quality and craftsmanship, in some of the capital’s finest pubs. What a fantastic combination!”

Notes to editors:

The ‘Royal’ in Royal London alludes to the ‘King’ in Greene King while ‘London’ indicates the beer’s celebration of the country’s capital.

Pubs featured in the ‘Capital Cask Ale Trail’ and serving Royal London include the following (description of each pub below):

• Allsop Arms, 137-143 Gloucester Place, London
• Bunch of Grapes, 207 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge
• Garrick Arms, 8-10 Charing Cross Road, Charing Cross
• George, 75-77 Borough High Street, Southwark
• Monument, 18 Fish Street Hill, Whitechapel
• Old Tea Warehouse, 4, 6 8 Creechurch Lane, London
• Sawyers Arms, 8-9 London Street, Paddington
• Old Star, 66 Broadway, City Of Westminster
• Sherlock Holmes, 10 Northumberland Street, St James
• Kings Stores Whitechapel 14 Widegate Street
• Williams Ale & Wine House, 22-24 Artillery Lane, Whitechapel
• Brewmaster, 37 Cranbourn Street, St James’s
• City Tavern, 29-30 Lawrence Lane, City Of London
• New Moon, 88 Gracechurch Street, Whitechapel
• Railway, 15 Liverpool Street, Whitechapel
• Bath House, 96 Dean Street, Soho
• Blue Posts, 18 Kingley Street , Mayfair
• Coach & Horses, 1 Great Marlborough Street, Soho
• Explorer, 23 Great Castle Street, London
• George, 55 Great Portland Street, Bloomsbury
• Golden Fleece London, 9 Queen Street, London
• Phoenix, 25 Throgmorton Street, Whitechapel

Additional pubs serving Royal London include:

• The Ram, 34 High Street, Kingston Upon Thames
• St Margarets, 107 St Margarets Place, Twickenham
• City Barge, 27 Strand on the Green, Chiswick
• Kings Arms, 16 King William Walk, Greenwich

Capital Cask Ale Trail

Trail 1

The George Inn, 75-77 Borough High Street, SE1 1NH

The George Inn is London’s only remaining galleried coaching inn and has been serving thirsty Londoners for over 300 years. Owned by The National Trust, The George was a haunt of Charles Dickens and was mentioned in “Little Dorrit.” Nearby attractions include Borough Market, London Dungeons, HMS Belfast and the Tate Modern.

Monument, 18 Fish Street Hill, EC3R 6DB

Opposite the Monument to The Great Fire of London of 1666, the titular pub has a wide fine selection of premium ales. Situated seconds away from Monument tube station and London Bridge, it is the perfect location from which to visit the Bank of England and the Historic Trading Houses of the Square Mile. Unsurprisingly for its location, the pub is popular with city workers refreshing themselves after a hard day’s trading.

The New Moon, 88 Gracechurch Street, EC3V 0DN

Originally an old coaching inn, The New Moon has had something of a staring role over the years. Situated in London’s famous Leadenhall Market, the grand entrance has featured in several films including Tomb Raider, James Bond and Harry Potter, as well as many TV period dramas. As the market is covered, customers can enjoy The New Moon’s traditional pub food and fine selection of cask beers, whatever the weather.

City Tavern, 29-30 Lawrence Lane, EC2V 8DP

Sip a pint of cask beer and enjoy the views as the City Tavern has one of the best roof terraces in London. It has a retractable awning, so you enjoy the pub’s special ambiance come rain or shine. With easy access from Mansion House, Bank and Moorgate Tube stations, the City Tavern’s ideal location and wide selection of ales makes it the perfect pub in the heart of the city.

The Golden Fleece, 8-9 Queen Street, EC4N 1SP

A large city pub a short walk from St Paul’s Cathedral, the Golden Fleece takes its name from Order of the Golden Fleece worn by Louis XIV. The famous Hope Diamond was rumoured to be cut from the fleece by local jewellers after it was stolen during the French Revolution. The Golden Fleece is a relaxing pub that still retains its traditional character and charm.

Trail 2

Old Tea Warehouse, 468 Creechurch Lane, EC3A 5AY

The site of Old Tea Warehouse is steeped in the history of London, situated on a monastery graveyard and previously used as a tea warehouse for the East India Tea Company. There were even bones underneath the building and tea leaves in the joists discovered when the site was converted into the pub it is today. A short walk away from the traditional Leadenhall Market Hall and Tower Hill, the Old Tea Warehouse is well worth a visit for its rich history, selection of cask ales and a warm welcome.

Phoenix, 25 Throgmorton Street, EC2N 2AN

A listed building situated the heart of London’s financial district, the Phoenix rose from the flames of its previous guise, a bank, to become a fine pub with Cask Marque accreditation. The Phoenix offers traditional pub food, great ales and is a popular location for workers and tourists alike.

The Railway Tavern, 15 Liverpool Street, EC2M 7NX

Established over 100 years ago, The Railway Tavern stands on an old animal market. A popular haunt for celebrities including screen luminaries such as Dame Judy Dench, Dermott O’Leary and many of the Eastenders cast, it’s situated in a prime location near London Bridge, St.Paul’s and Tower Bridge. The Railway Tavern is a perfect stop off for both visitors and locals due to its great reputation for ales, food and live sport.

Kings Stores, 14 Widegate Street, E1 7HP

A traditional pub for the modern world, King’s Stores was named after the site’s historical past during the reign of Henry VIII. The pub also has grisly claim to fame. It was the last place the final victim of Jack the Ripper was seen before she came to an untimely death. You can be sure of a much warmer welcome now.

Williams Ale & Wine House, 22-24 Artillery Lane, E1 7LS

Established in 1682, Williams Ale & Wine House is off the beaten track for a city pub, giving a different atmosphere to other pubs in the area. With the City boundary running outside the front door of the pub, Williams stands within the Square Mile and is perfect for an evening of good conversation and good ale. A hidden gem.

Trail 3

The Old Star, 66 Broadway, SW1H 1DB

The Old Star is over 300 years old and has a number of esteemed neighbours. Situated in close proximity to Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards Parade, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament, the basement of the pub used to be used as the Crown Vaults. These have now been converted into cosy coves, a setting frequented by the occasional MP. You can still enjoy its treasures with a pint of cask ale.

Sherlock Holmes, 10 Northumberland Street, WC2N 5DB

Here’s something out of the ordinary. Home of The Sherlock Holmes Exhibition, this pub is visited by Holmes and Watson enthusiasts from around the world. With the main attraction being a replica of Holmes’ sitting room and study, diners at the Sherlock Holmes pub are able to see the famous setting through a glass partition in the restaurant area. Situated next to Charing Cross station, it is easy to imagine Arthur Conan-Doyle’s detective duo dashing off to catch a train on one of their hair-raising adventures.

The Garrick Arms, 8-10 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HG

With a fantastic location in the heart of London’s West End, you are never too far from the theatres and famous attractions such as Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and the National and Portrait galleries. The pub is very popular amongst theatre-goers for a pre or post-show drink.

The Brewmaster, 37 Cranbourne Street, WC2H 7AD

Located in the heart of the West End, The Brewmaster is a traditional English pub surrounded by history and culture. A minute’s walk from Leicester Square and at the epicentre of Theatreland, The Brewmaster serves hearty pub fare and has an excellent selection of cask ales on the bar. Free wireless internet is also available to bring the pub right up to date with the modern age. Previous customers include screen legends Bruce Willis, Sean Penn and er…Mcfly. There’s always a good chance you’ll bump into a celebrity or two during your time there.

Bath House, 96 Dean Street, W1D 3TD

Situated in the trendy area of Soho, The Bath House has been trading since 1738 and has impeccable entertainment credentials. Rumoured to be the meeting place of Rod Stewart and The Small Faces, the pub is a friendly and truly traditional pub now frequented by music producers and TV directors.

The Coach and Horses – 1 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7HG

A public house with the name Coach and Horses has stood on the site in Soho since at least 1739. The existing building also dates back to a similar era. The famous poet Percy Shelley had lodgings opposite the pub from 1811 where he wrote several famous pieces, and the Coach and Horses was believed to be his local watering hole. A traditional English pub situated in the heart of the West End.

Blue Posts, 18 Kingley Street, W1B 5PX

Built in 1736, the pub is close to the shopping Mecca’s of Carnaby Street, Regent Street, Oxford Street and just 30 seconds from the world famous Hamleys toy shop. Locals tell stories of how the Beatles regularly used to hold band meetings there and the likes of Kate Moss and Pete Doherty still pop in. The Blue Posts has also gained fame for its delicious organic Sunday roasts. The perfect accompaniment to a pint of real ale.

Trail 4

Bunch of Grapes, 207 Brompton Road, SW3 1LA

The Bunch of Grapes benefits from a lively atmosphere and a great selection of cask beer. It also dates back to 1770 and most of the original features are still intact. A short walk from Harrods, it’s a lovely place to indulge in a spot of people watching in the exclusive environs of Knightsbridge.

City of Quebec, 12 Old Quebec Street, W1H 7AF

Established in 1936, The Quebec is a popular and lively gay-friendly pub situated within walking distance of Marble Arch and Speakers Corner in Hyde Park. It’s a hit with celebrities and you just might catch Danni Minogue playing host at the bar when she’s not on X Factor duty.

Old Explorer, 23 Great Castle Street, W1G 0JA

With its two-floor layout, basement bar and cosy alcoves just a stones throw away from Oxford Street and Regent Street, The Old Explorer is in a great location for visitors to the city. Situated opposite the London College of Fashion, the venue holds a well established karaoke night frequented by fashionistas on a Wednesday. With its close proximity to BBC Broadcasting House, it is not unknown for a few famous faces to pop in for a drink.

The George, 55 Great Portland Street, W1W 7LQ

Established in 1677 in a Grade II building, The George stands out for its Georgian décor and features including a grand back bar display. The George has been a popular watering hole with BBC employees ever since BBC orchestras gave concerts in nearby The Queen’s Hall. Situated a stones throw from busy Oxford Street, The George is ideal for those seeking a pint of cask ale as the world bustles by outside and is the perfect spot to recuperate from a day’s retail therapy.

Allsop Arms, 137-143 Gloucester Place, NW1 5AL

Close to Madam Tussauds and the original site of Lord’s Cricket Ground, The Allsop Arms is also frequented by music and sports fans on their way to Wembley. Serving traditional food and a range of cask ales, the Allsop Arms has also embraced the modern era with free wireless internet access for all its customers and is a relaxing retreat.

Sawyers Arms, 8-9 London Street, W2 1HL

This pub was previously known as ‘The Western Counties Tavern’ from the period when Isambard Brunel embarked on the huge task of constructing a railway to connect London to the western counties. Since 1983, it has been called the Sawyers Arms and is a popular destination for both travellers and visitors due to its’ close proximity to Paddington Station.

Media contact:

For more information and images and a high-resolution copy of the map, please contact Helen Little or Sarah Hall at brewco@consolidatedpr.com or on 020 7781 2354

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