Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood

1980 Express Tavern, Brentford On Kew Bridge Road on the east side of Brentford, standing opposite Kew Bridge this pub hardly seems to have changed since it won the first of these awards. A three room pub, including a separate public bar, very rare in London these days. Back in 1980 Draught Bas and Youngs Ordinary were the beers on tap, as they still are today, along with a guest ale or two. Very much a quiet retreat from the busy main road outside and a pub out of the old school. The SPBW mirror presented in 1980 remains just inside the doorway to the saloon bar.
1981 Cross Keys, Hammersmith Like the previous year’s winner, this one was nominated by Campden Hill branch. This was, and remains, a Fullers pub in Black Lion Lane between King Street and the Great West Road. Nowadays the pub has two smallish drinking areas around the bar counter and a larger room to the rear which ‘boasts’ big-screen tv. The pub has really lost much of its character and charm over the years.
1982 Royal Oak, Romford No longer a pub - a traffic roundabout! For several years this was the regular meeting place for Wantz branch. In its original incarnation this had one very small bar and a much larger one before it was knocked through into one large room. Despite this, the pub retained its character as a friendly community pub. The Royal Oak was a Charrington house offering IPA and one or two others from that stable; not very exciting in retrospect but the beers were always served in good condition and beers from non-Big 6 brewers were unknown in Romford at the time. Sadly, even when the award was presented, the pub’s days were numbered. A new ring road was in the advanced stage of planning and the Royal Oak, along with adjacent housing, would be swept aside to make way; the last pints were drawn in 1985.
1983 Kings Arms, Waterloo This was presumably nominated by Special Branch whose meeting place, the Rose & Crown, was just a couple of hundred yards down the road. The KA was a cosy two room pub in Roupell Street, a quiet back road of terraced housing close by Waterloo Station. It was run by a friendly couple who took great pride in the place, not least the extensive collection of spirits miniatures which lined the walls. The Kings Arms was owned by Allied Breweries and at the time had been badged under the Taylor Walker banner, serving two or three Allied brews. John and Mary moved on a few years later and these days the beer range is extended a little.
1984 Star Tavern, Belgravia This is one of the best known pubs among London beer aficionados, and one of only two in the capital to have appeared in every edition of the Good Beer Guide. Back in the mid-1970s very few Fullers houses offered non-dustbin beers and the Star was the only one of them in central London. Hence it was an essential place to visit for the London Pride and ESB. The pub has barely changed since other than to reflect the increased range of Chiswick ales. As you go through the front door, look immediately to the wall on the left for the SPBW mirror presented in 1984. The bar area is to the right but the main action is in the large room on the left. The pub is tucked away in Belgrave Mews West, just off Belgrave Square and not at all easy to find, but very much worth the effort.
1985 Fish & Ring, Stepney No longer a pub - private housing Another Wantz nomination and another now defunct pub. This was a two roomed free house which offered unusual for London beers such as Thwaites and Davenports. I can’t really remember much about the place other than that it was a friendly oasis for good beer in an east London back street. It has since been
1986 Ye Olde Leather Bottle, Belvedere Nominated by Woolwich branch, this is surely the least distinguished of all past winners. It was a Courage house in an almost rural area of this south eastern suburb. The only time I ever visited was for the presentation and it didn’t make a lasting impression. This pub is the only LPotY winner that has never appeared in the Good Beer Guide.
1987 (Why no 1987 award? Actually there was just a short slippage; the ’86 award was done in December that year and judging for the next competition was in late ’87 and early ’88.)
1988 Spanish Galleon, Greenwich Again courtesy of Woolwich branch and another fairly unremarkable pub (my opinion!). I was on the pub judging panel this year and I thought this was nowhere the best pub on the list. At the time this was a Courage pub although it has since been acquired by Shepherd Neame. It’s a fairly spacious pub on a busy street corner, handy for the Cutty Sark and other Greenwich attractions. But if you’re in Greenwich, the Dog & Bell is only 10 minutes walk away!
1989 - 2002 After 1988 there was a marked lack of enthusiasm for anyone to organise another competition and it drifted into (temporary) oblivion until we were persuaded to bring it back to life in the new Millenium.
2003 Wenlcok Arms, Hoxton The Wenlock Arms is a genuine traditional back street local which was rescued from obscurity when beer lovers Steve and Will took it over in 1994. Nowadays it serves up to 8 hand pumped beers (as well as a 'real' cider) and it is one of the few London pubs where you can always get a pint of mild. It attracts a clientele of regulars from the neighbourhood and beer lovers from further afield. They are entertained by live jazz on Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday lunchtime as well as by a quiz on Thursday nights. More information about the pub can be found on its website: www.wenlock-arms.co.uk
2004 Royal Oak, Tabard Street, London SE1 4JU This outpost of the Harveys tied estate (since 1997) is very popular with discerning beer drinkers and rightly so. But the excellence of the beer range, the wonderful atmosphere of a two bar pub free of gimmicks, the friendly welcome and service - oh, and the food's superb as well - make this a worthy winner. If you've not visited yet, you're missing something special.
2005 Dog & Bell, Prince St, London, SE8 3JD The Dog & Bell is an excellent free house always featuring Fullers London Pride and ESB and three interesting and well kept guest beers from small breweries. Food is good and the range of bottled continental beers (especially) Belgium is excellent. Add in a friendly warm welcome, separate bars including quiet areas, a warm fire, bar billiards and a fish tank and you can see why this fine establishment won.
2006 Royal Oak, Tabard Street, London SE1 4JU The winner for the 2nd time in 2 years (the winning pub is not allowed to enter the next year's competition), was the Royal Oak. This is a very friendly Harvey's (of Lewes) house. The landlord Frank always gives his customers a warm welcome. The 2 room traditional back street local, serves a full range of Harvey's beers, Best, Pale, Mild and a seasonal guest, which varies from the strong special winter ales to the Knots of May light mild. All of these are always in tip-top fettle. The menu is comprehensive, and the portions are large at reasonable prices. Halibut, rabbit, roast lamb and various pies and casseroles are usually available.

LPOTY BLOG or a tale entitled; "No Teabreaks For Sisyphus".

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