Today’s lecture is about cocktail bars disguised as pubs.
Our case study is The Sun Tavern, an 1850s corner house that’s been converted into an all-day craft beer and cocktail-infused drinking den by the team behind Discount Suit Company (which remains, to this very day, our very favourite subterranean cocktail lounge hidden in the basement of an old suit tailor’s stock room).
Located inside a handsome old tavern on Bethnal Green Road, it features an expertly crafted list of high quality cocktails, more than forty Leprechaun Green Irish whiskies, and a vast selection of locally brewed craft beers and poitín, a once-illegal Irish spirit. And yes, a little live music on Sundays and Mondays, and DJs till late at the end of the week.
All of which ultimately means that Mick Jagger was wrong, and you actually can always get what you want. Provided that what you want is:
1) A beautiful, brick-walled local tavern that opens at noon for freshly-brewed coffee from The Roasting Shed in Hackney Wick.
2) A place that serves homemade pork pies, scotch eggs and deluxe grilled sandwiches made with bread sourced from East London bakeries and cheeses from Neal’s Yard, all washed down with ten of East London’s finest craft beers…PLUS,
3) A ‘home from home’ where – to a soundtrack of old Stones, Zeppelin and Beatles records – bartenders fix single serve 18th Century punches, tankard cocktails like “The Bogcutter” and mixed drinks like “The Barn Owl”, a little gin-based, lemon and honey-infused number that’s perfect for anyone who thinks they may come down with flu at some point.
So much better than Lemsip.
NOTE: The Sun Tavern is open daily from noon until midnight (Sun-Wed) and 2am (Thur-Sat). You can book on their website HERE.
The Sun Tavern | 441 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 0AN
Like cocktails? Check out our guide to The Best London Cocktail Bars
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