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The Harp (Fuller Smith & Turner)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Lion London PorterExceptional1
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)Excellent1
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Wild RavenExcellent1
Five Points - Derailed PorterExcellent1
Five Points - Railway PorterExcellent1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterGood8
Hobsons - Citra Mosaic (collaboration with Brew By Numbers)Good1
Canopy - Llopper Everyday Oyster StoutGood1
Bexley - Howbury 20 CascadeAcceptable1
Exeter - Darkness The Prince of AlesNot Tried0
By The Horns - Giggle MugNot Tried0
Rooster's - Baby-Faced AssassinNot Tried0
Gorgeous - GlowflyNot Tried0
London Beer Factory - XPANot Tried0
Gorgeous - Special BitterNot Tried0
Canopy - Grafter Ruby MildNot Tried0
Gritchie - English LoreNot Tried0
Rooster's - NectarNot Tried0
Vale of Glamorgan (VOG) - Conversion Match Day PaleNot Tried0
Exeter - County BestNot Tried0
New River - KaimataNot Tried0
Bexley - RedhouseNot Tried0
Elusive - Helter Skelter Citra & 7CsNot Tried0
By The Horns - HopadelicNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PorterNot Tried0
Exeter - Avocet AleNot Tried0
Marble - Pint (was 3.9%)Not Tried0
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)Not Tried0
East London (ELB) - Pale AleNot Tried0
Five Points - Brick Field BrownNot Tried0
New River - Five-Inch DropNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - In Our Veins DDH Red AleNot Tried0
Bexley - BOB (Bexley's Own Beer)Not Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PrideNot Tried0
By The Horns - Lambeth WalkNot Tried0
Canopy - Sunray Pale AleNot Tried0
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Not Tried0
Weird Beard - Mariana TrenchNot Tried0
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Not Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Mister SquirrelNot Tried0
Exeter - 'fraid NotNot Tried0
Exeter - LightermanNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London
Picture 2. The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Visits Details

30 Mar 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit thwarted by lights off and no sign of life, as with other pubs locally, allegedly due to a massive Sunderland AFC crowd taking over Trafalgar Square. Certainly lots of chanting and litter, all nearby.
BeerABVScoreNotes
21 Mar 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00GoodSweeter than my par for this beer
Hobsons - Citra Mosaic (collaboration with Brew By Numbers)4.20GoodClip warns of being hazy. VERY hazy, interesting take on the hop blending
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 was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Porter5.40Not Tried
Marble - Pint (was 3.9%)3.40Not Tried
East London (ELB) - Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
New River - Five-Inch Drop4.60Not Tried
16 Mar 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Five Points - Railway Porter4.80ExcellentNutritious
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00GoodThe great variability in the taste of this beer shone through tonight once again
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 was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
By The Horns - Giggle Mug3.50Not Tried
Gritchie - English Lore4.00Not Tried
Gorgeous - Special Bitter5.50Not Tried
Vale of Glamorgan (VOG) - Conversion Match Day Pale4.00Not Tried
14 Mar 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until 11.30pm close. A mish-mash of missed trains made for a short visit, too late to sample the SPBW inspired cask ale from the wood which had run out.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Excellent
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 was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
By The Horns - Giggle Mug3.50Not Tried
Canopy - Grafter Ruby Mild4.30Not Tried
Gorgeous - Special Bitter5.50Not Tried
New River - Kaimata3.60Not Tried
Elusive - Helter Skelter Citra & 7Cs5.40Not Tried
14 Mar 2019 (ChrisE)
Thursday evening in this superb and very popular pub, even busier than usual tonight as there was a large group of SPBW members present for the unveiling of a plaque in memory of the late Bill English. In spite of being very busy service was almost immediate. Only once did I have to ask for a top up and this was given with good grace.
BeerABVScoreNotes
XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Lion London Porter4.60ExceptionalOn gravity dispense from a wooden cask on the bar, superb.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Excellent
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
Exeter - Lighterman3.50Not Tried
By The Horns - Giggle Mug3.50Not Tried
Gorgeous - Glowfly4.00Not Tried
Canopy - Grafter Ruby Mild4.30Not Tried
Gorgeous - Special Bitter5.50Not Tried
09 Mar 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Wild Raven6.60ExcellentLovely nick
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Good
Bexley - Howbury 20 Cascade5.00AcceptableReally disappointing, hazy, no crispness of taste and simply lacklustre
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 was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
By The Horns - Lambeth Walk5.10Not Tried
Weird Beard - Mariana Trench5.30Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Mister Squirrel4.00Not Tried
04 Mar 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until 11.30pm close.
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 was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Exeter - Avocet Ale3.90Not Tried
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)3.40Not Tried
Bexley - Redhouse4.20Not Tried
Five Points - Brick Field Brown5.40Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - In Our Veins DDH Red Ale4.50Not Tried
02 Mar 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Good
Canopy - Llopper Everyday Oyster Stout5.00GoodA very dry bitter stout
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 was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Rooster's - Nectar5.20Not Tried
Exeter - County Best4.60Not Tried
Bexley - Redhouse4.20Not Tried
By The Horns - Hopadelic4.30Not Tried
27 Feb 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until 11.30pm close. Suddenly filled at 11.20pm out of nowhere.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Excellent
Five Points - Derailed Porter5.20ExcellentLovely porter, allegedly kept in store at the brewery for an extended time
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
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 was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Exeter - County Best4.60Not Tried
Bexley - BOB (Bexley's Own Beer)4.20Not Tried
Canopy - Sunray Pale Ale4.20Not Tried
22 Feb 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Excellent4½* Superb with that special balance this beer can sometimes have. Although I know all beers here will be in good condition I see no need tonight to move on to any of the unknown or known dud brands
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 was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Exeter - 'fraid Not4.00Not Tried
Exeter - Darkness The Prince of Ales5.10Not Tried
Rooster's - Baby-Faced Assassin6.10Not Tried
London Beer Factory - XPA4.30Not Tried
Canopy - Grafter Ruby Mild4.30Not Tried

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About The Harp

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

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional24
Excellent562
Good280
Acceptable75
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 530 times, seen 1074 different beers and tried 429 of them.

Map location

Postcode: WC2N 4HS