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The Harp (Fuller Smith & Turner)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Dark Star - Imperial StoutExcellent1
Ilkley - Mary ChristmasExcellent1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Bengal LancerExcellent1
Cloudwater - A-W18 Brown AleExcellent1
Saltaire - New GroundGood1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PrideGood1
Five Points - Brick Field BrownGood1
Five Points - Railway PorterGood1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterGood7
Gorgeous - GeekhunterGood1
Oakham - CitraGood1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Snow GlobeGood1
Elusive - Three Headed MonkeyGood1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PorterGood1
Bexley - BOB (Bexley's Own Beer)Acceptable1
Southwark - M.B. Single HopNot Tried0
Sambrook's - WandleNot Tried0
XT Brewing - No. 8 PorterNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - Dream MoreNot Tried0
Signature Brew - Roadie - All-Night IPANot Tried0
Siren Craft - Yu LuNot Tried0
Shiny - Happy PeopleNot Tried0
Redemption - Urban DuskNot Tried0
East London (ELB) - Walthamstow Beer – Green-hopped Dark AleNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - Red Spider Rye (superseded by 4.8% version)Not Tried0
Southwark - LPA London Pale AleNot Tried0
Belleville - Southie StoutNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London PorterNot Tried0
Siren Craft - Suspended in BravoNot Tried0
Dancing Duck - 22Not Tried0
Gorgeous - GunpowderNot Tried0
Tipsy Angel (latterly a cuckoo at 4T's) - Angel's GoldNot Tried0
Rooster's - Not Berry Blue (collaboration with Dark Star)Not Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Grandstand BitterNot Tried0
XT Brewing - No. 13 Pacific Red AleNot Tried0
Gloucester - GoldNot Tried0
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Not Tried0
Windsor & Eton - Conqueror Black IPANot Tried0
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Not Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked LadiesNot Tried0
Marble - Pint (was 3.9%)Not Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Mister SquirrelNot Tried0
Three Sods - BoHo BitterNot Tried0
XT Brewing - 3 West Coast IPANot Tried0
Picture 1. The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London
Picture 2. The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Visits Details

15 Dec 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close. Late bedlam with last minuters arriving and a dropped glass or two.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Imperial Stout10.50ExcellentClip attached with one minute to closing time so a very late choice!
Ilkley - Mary Christmas4.70ExcellentIn excellent condition but the spiciness was well hidden
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
Belleville - Southie Stout5.10Not Tried
Gorgeous - Gunpowder4.80Not Tried
Rooster's - Not Berry Blue (collaboration with Dark Star)5.30Not Tried
08 Dec 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close. Long chat with a knowledgeable 30 years of drinking here chap who could ring the changes.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentReliably excellent
Saltaire - New Ground4.60GoodCoffee porter style
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
Redemption - Urban Dusk4.60Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Red Spider Rye (superseded by 4.8% version)5.50Not Tried
Belleville - Southie Stout5.10Not Tried
Siren Craft - Suspended in Bravo4.00Not Tried
01 Dec 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Excellent
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Snow Globe5.50GoodHeartily spiced but needed more body to go with it
Elusive - Three Headed Monkey4.80GoodCleverly balanced Raspberry and Honey Oatmeal Milk 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
Sambrook's - Wandle3.80Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Dream More4.20Not Tried
Siren Craft - Yu Lu3.60Not Tried
23 Nov 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10GoodNew cask pulled through so thought I'd try it. Perhaps freshness explains the lack of taste
Five Points - Railway Porter4.80Good
Gorgeous - Geekhunter4.20GoodPretty tasteless very pale coloured beer
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not 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
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies4.40Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Mister Squirrel4.00Not Tried
XT Brewing - 3 West Coast IPA4.20Not Tried
17 Nov 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close. Good conversation with a Swedish couple, weekending in London, who craved pub recommendations and the gentleman of which was critical of Sweden's past neutrality position.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Cloudwater - A-W18 Brown Ale4.60ExcellentLovely nightcap beer
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
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Grandstand Bitter3.80Not Tried
XT Brewing - No. 13 Pacific Red Ale4.50Not Tried
Gloucester - Gold3.90Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Conqueror Black IPA5.00Not Tried
15 Nov 2018 (ChrisE)
Lunchtime visit with a group of friends. I did not manage to note all the beers that were available.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Excellent
09 Nov 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Good
Bexley - BOB (Bexley's Own Beer)4.20AcceptableEither too fresh or over-conditioned, something not right
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
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter5.00Not TriedTaster was flat and headless
Dancing Duck - 224.30Not Tried
Tipsy Angel (latterly a cuckoo at 4T's) - Angel's Gold4.10Not TriedTaster was flat and tasteless, a massive disappointment
03 Nov 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close. Jostle, jostle, jostle at the bar area as a small group blocked the way without thought to move away.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00GoodHarvey's usual variability
Oakham - Citra4.20GoodA tad too fresh to be excellent
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
Southwark - LPA London Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Five Points - Brick Field Brown5.40Not Tried
East London (ELB) - Walthamstow Beer – Green-hopped Dark Ale4.50Not Tried
02 Nov 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Porter5.40Good
Five Points - Brick Field Brown5.40GoodLacking something compared to past examples
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
Signature Brew - Roadie - All-Night IPA4.30Not Tried
Shiny - Happy People4.20Not Tried
East London (ELB) - Walthamstow Beer – Green-hopped Dark Ale4.50Not Tried
30 Oct 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until 11.30pm close. Racking brains when asked by someone what were the 4 remaining brewpubs when CAMRA started. Forgot Ma Pardoe's at Netherton, until the questioner had gone home!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Bengal Lancer5.00ExcellentAbsolutely no need to move on to any other beer here tonight
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
Marble - Pint (was 3.9%)3.40Not Tried
Three Sods - BoHo Bitter4.10Not Tried
Southwark - M.B. Single Hop5.00Not Tried
XT Brewing - No. 8 Porter4.50Not Tried

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About The Harp

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

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional24
Excellent560
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 528 times, seen 1069 different beers and tried 429 of them.

Map location

Postcode: WC2N 4HS