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The Harp (Fuller Smith & Turner)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Lees (see also JW Lees) - StoutExcellent1
Dark Star - Green Hopped IPAExcellent1
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)Excellent2
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent1
Mallinsons - KoranumExcellent1
Five Points - Railway PorterExcellent1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterGood9
Signature Brew - Anthology Second Edition Imperial StoutGood1
Villages - RippleGood1
Spartan - PolemarchAcceptable1
Arbor Ales - Blue Sky DrinkingNot Tried0
Anspach & Hobday - The Triple Mashed MildNot Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - RedheadNot Tried0
Sambrook's - WandleNot Tried0
XT Brewing - Animal Brewing MagpieNot Tried0
Fyne - JarlNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London PorterNot Tried0
East London (ELB) - Quadrant Oatmeal StoutNot Tried0
Rooster's - Baby-Faced AssassinNot Tried0
Bad Seed - Centennial Pale AleNot Tried0
Five Points - Best Fuggles HopsNot Tried0
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Devils Dyke PorterNot Tried0
XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Blue DragonNot Tried0
Park - West Coast PaleNot Tried0
Sambrook's - JunctionNot Tried0
Little Critters - Rye FoxNot Tried0
Hammerton - N7Not Tried0
Vocation - Heart & SoulNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Mister SquirrelNot Tried0
London Beer Lab - Session IPANot Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Small Batch Banoffee StoutNot Tried0
Wylam - GoldNot Tried0
Exeter - Darkness The Prince of AlesNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PrideNot Tried0
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)Not Tried0
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Not Tried0
Ilkley - Hanging StoneNot Tried0
Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic)Not Tried0
Big Smoke - Solaris Session PaleNot Tried0
Hawkshead - NZPANot Tried0
Canopy - Sunray Pale AleNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London
Picture 2. The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Visits Details

08 Jan 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Early evening visit, immediately recognised "where have you been". Noticeably lower footfall and higher prices. Limited opening hours due to difficulty recruiting staff. Same old place still.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Excellent2 pumps on - 1st pint hazy so barman poured 2nd from the other pump and as clear as a bell and scrumptious
Mallinsons - Koranum4.20ExcellentSuperb with great balanced multiple hopping
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00GoodNew cask - a bit fresh. Given gratis "for Christmas". Now usually £5.20 pp
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Vocation - Heart & Soul4.40Not Tried
London Beer Lab - Session IPA4.20Not Tried
Wylam - Gold4.00Not Tried
16 Nov 2021 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit to avail myself of the Fuller's 176th birthday £1.76 a pint promotion. First visit for 21 months and all faces behind bar new. The Guv says the 11pm close (even earlier on Sundays) is due to not being able to attract sufficient staff. I stayed until close, as one must.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentNow £5.10 pp before CAMRA discount. A massive hike since last visit
Dark Star - Green Hopped IPA6.50ExcellentBelies its strength
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Fyne - Jarl3.80Not Tried
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Devils Dyke Porter5.00Not Tried
Park - West Coast Pale4.20Not Tried
Little Critters - Rye Fox4.00Not Tried
05 Oct 2021 (ChrisE)
Afternoon visit and the pub was busier than I expected it to be. We sat in the upstairs room which has recently been refurbished and was relatively quiet.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Excellent
Lees (see also JW Lees) - Stout4.20Excellent
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Bad Seed - Centennial Pale Ale4.50Not Tried
21 Aug 2021 (Philip Pirrip)
Circuitous wasted journey. 2324 hrs and all lights off and place deserted yet this part of London was buzzing, maybe not to pre-pandemic levels. Sure-fire way to lose footfall is to be closed.
BeerABVScoreNotes
15 Feb 2020 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close. Became comfortable with a mass exodus at 11.30 probably weather induced.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentFirst rate bittersweetness
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30ExcellentServed in a handled jug for some unknown reason
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Sambrook's - Wandle3.80Not Tried
Fyne - Jarl3.80Not Tried
East London (ELB) - Quadrant Oatmeal Stout5.80Not Tried
24 Jan 2020 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Excellent
Five Points - Railway Porter4.80ExcellentFirst rate
Spartan - Polemarch5.50AcceptableSo called English IPA - floral nose and taste but some haze
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Big Smoke - Solaris Session Pale3.80Not Tried
Canopy - Sunray Pale Ale4.20Not Tried
Anspach & Hobday - The Triple Mashed Mild3.90Not Tried
11 Jan 2020 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close. A jostley atmosphere with a packed bar.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Good
Villages - Ripple3.90GoodVillages's take on an APA, with a high bitterness level to boot
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Sambrook's - Junction4.50Not Tried
Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales5.10Not Tried
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)3.40Not Tried
Ilkley - Hanging Stone5.00Not Tried
14 Dec 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close, albeit with a rather uninspiring beer range on the pumps.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Good
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Good
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Sambrook's - Junction4.50Not Tried
Hammerton - N75.20Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Mister Squirrel4.00Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Small Batch Banoffee Stout4.70Not Tried
07 Dec 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close. Christmas madness and a birthday do to boot made for a raucous half an hour.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Good
Signature Brew - Anthology Second Edition Imperial Stout10.00GoodUnnecessary nightcap chosen by a greedy drinker, i.e. me
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter5.00Not Tried
Rooster's - Baby-Faced Assassin6.10Not Tried
Five Points - Best Fuggles Hops4.10Not Tried
XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Blue Dragon4.60Not Tried
23 Nov 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close. Deep in conversation about the pubs of Tooting and nearby I missed the time call.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Good
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.80Not Tried
Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic)4.80Not Tried
Hawkshead - NZPA6.00Not Tried
Arbor Ales - Blue Sky Drinking4.40Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Redhead4.10Not Tried
XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Magpie4.60Not Tried

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About The Harp

The pub sign. The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional24
Excellent556
Good278
Acceptable74
Poor7

Website.

The pub is found in Charing Cross, Central London, WC2N 4HS.

Formerly the Welsh Harp, a small narrow long pub on Chandos Place, just a stone's throw from Charing Cross railway station, so very handy for commuters. Hanging baskets at the front are attractive. A steep flight of stairs leads to the toilets and an upstairs room. There is an alley at the rear for smokers. Won the ultimate accolade as CAMRA National Pub of the Year in 2010. In 2011 CAMRA London Cider Pub of the Year, in 2012 CAMRA West London branch Pub of the Year, and again in 2014 as joint branch Pub of the Year and in 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2021 as branch Pub of the Year once more. Previously privately owned it was sold to Fuller's in mid July 2014 for a reported £7 million so changes expected. Closed for some days in February 2015 for an upgrade to plumbing and electrics, in particular to swap over the Gents and Ladies toilets. Good range of regional and micro breweries beer available through 10 handpumps and a superb range of ciders and perries sold from boxes in the chilled cabinets behind the bar. 10% price discount for card carrying CAMRA members on cask ales.

We have visited this pub 524 times, seen 1054 different beers and tried 427 of them.

Map location

Postcode: WC2N 4HS