Derelict London Pubs Back From the Brink

This section is now divided up into 4 pages. This page covers closed down and derelict pubs that have since reopened as pubs/bars
Other pics of derelict East London pubs can be found  on this website at:

Derelict East London Pubs as at 2016/7

East London Pubs from Dereliction to Demolition

Derelict East London Pubs - From Dead Pubs to Conversion

Crown & Shuttle 2007 & 2015

​SHOREDITCH E1 - THE CROWN AND SHUTTLE 

​Originally opened in 1851, this pub was rebuilt in its current form in 1885 and bears a name linked to the Huguenot weavers of Spitalfields. 

Russ writes: "My mate Pete introduced me to this pub in the late 90,s or early 2000s, one of the best topless girl bars around! They used to come round with a pint glass, you put 50p in and they did a dance on the pool table & later a mini stage and pole. It was full of city types mainly - pin strip suits etc but very frendly but it only opened during the day. If I remember right the manager was a Grant Mitchell lookalike but he died of a drug overdose (rip mate) Had some happy times here."

The pub has now been  reopened after a makeover as is proving quite popular by all accounts though its not cheap, but where is in this manor these days?

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The Widow's Son in Bromley-by-Bow (early 2016)

​BROMLEY E3- WIDOWS SON
​(locally known as The Bun House)

​The Widow's Son on Devons Rd was built in the early 19th century and the existing building is on the site of an old widow’s cottage.

The legend is that the old widow's only son left the cottage to go to sea during the Napoleonic Wars, and wrote to her explaining that he would be returning home at Easter and to have a nice hot cross bun waiting for him. Sadly, he never returned, but his mother continued to keep a fresh hot cross bun every Good Friday for the rest of her life. After her death, a huge collection of hot cross buns was discovered in a net hanging from the ceiling of her cottage.

The public house that was built upon the site of her cottage was named in honour of the tradition she had created. The tradition has continued at the pub with a sailor from the Royal Navy placing a new bun in the net hanging above the bar each year. The last bun ceremony here was in 2015 as the pub closed down just before Easter 2016 and the Queens Head in Limehouse stepped in and carried on the tradition instead. 

From 2012 the pub company sold the freehold of the pub to a developer who had planning refused at the time amidst fierce opposition from the landlady and leaseholder who had another 4 years left on her lease. That lease expired in March 2016 and the pub then closed down. 

In the months leading up to closure it was pretty quiet with only a handful of locals who were friendly enough (to me at least) and with a relaxed approach to the smoking ban...

Against all odds, the pub reopened in November 2016 after a brief interior makeover it has a new lease of life now catering for a younger more upmarket crowd serving cocktails, craft beers with live music

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The Sun in Bethnal Green (2014)

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​BETHNAL GREEN E2 - THE SUN

The Sun Tavern on the Bethnal Green Road was originally established in 1851, re-opened in the summer of 2014 after a makeover and now offers cocktails & ales from micro breweries.

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Well & Bucket (aka The Stick of Rock) in Bethnal Green (2010)

​BETHNAL GREEN E2 - WELL & BUCKET

The Well & Bucket on Bethnal Green Road was known as the Stick Of Rock before closing around 1993.The ground floor was converted into retail before being converted back to a successful pub the Well & Bucket in 2013.

The Stick Of Rock was run by Steve Bruce the drummer from Cock Sparrer who hosted metal and punk bands in the pub in the early 90s. Bands who played included Tenpole Tudor, Demented Are Go, The Adicts and Blitz. The popularity of the venue led to Steve getting offers to reform Cock Sparrer which he did and they performed a warm up gig/rehearsal in the Stick of Rock the afternoon before playing the 2000 capacity Astoria that evening.

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Market House in London Fields (2004)

LONDON FIELDS E8 - THE MARKET HOUSE 
​

​The Market House in Broadway Market closed in 1999 and reopened in 2012 as the Market House Pub after quite a revamp and focussing on food but that only lasted a year until it was renamed Stories until 2016 and now its Edgar's Bar a cafe/bar/bookshop. During the 1980-90s the pub had a reputation for being quite rough though times have changed as the dwindling working class street market has made way for stalls & shops popular with creative professionals & hipsters. 

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Horse & Groom Hackney (2005)

HACKNEY E8 - HORSE & GROOM

This photograph taken in 2005 shows the pub (renamed Hobsons Choice then Maddigans at time of closure) after being demolished apart from the facade. After the rebuilt pub opened in 2006 under the name Amp the pub was once again closed and empty by 2007.Then it became the Anatolia Bar before reverting to Maddigans though that closed in late 2013  after a man was stabbed inside while watching a televised football game. A police report submitted to the council states that a man, who was standing at the bar, was allegedly stabbed four times during an incident and required 18 stitches as a result. Police said the alleged victim has “known gang links” and they were concerned that there would be reprisal attacks at the pub, which they believe was being frequented by gang members. The building is now home to the Heart of Hackney Bar & Kitchen

(pic by Diane Ridley 2005)

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Prince Arthur in Dalston

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​DALSTON,E8 - PRINCE ARTHUR

This Forest Road boozer changed its name to the Lady Diana in the early 1980s and reverted back to the Prince Arthur in 1998. The pub closed  though reopened and is still operating as a pub of the same name.

(pic by Diane Ridley 2004)

This section is now divided up into 4 pages. This page covers closed down and derelict pubs that have since reopened as pubs/bars
Other pics of derelict East London pubs can be found  on this website at:

Derelict East London Pubs as at 2016/7

East London Pubs from Dereliction to Demolition

Derelict East London Pubs - From Dead Pubs to Conversion