Empire Tavern Opens Mare Street Hackney 2026

Key Points

• Empire Tavern, a new pub diner, is set to open on Friday 20 March 2026, at a location next to Hackney Empire on Mare Street, Hackney.​
• It is a joint venture between Taverns East Pub Group (operators of Leytonstone Tavern and Tavern On The Hill in Walthamstow) and East London Brewing Co.​
• The venue revives the site of the Victorian pub The Britannia, destroyed in World War II, previously occupied by the Empire Bar, a live music venue, bar, and kitchen that has closed for refurbishment at 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ.​
• Designed as a vibrant space for locals, workers, and theatre-goers, blending pub warmth with destination dining, craft drinks, music, and events, positioned at the heart of Hackney’s social and cultural scene opposite Hackney Town Hall.​
• Food focus includes casual all-day dining from breakfast and lunch to evening meals, pre-theatre options, and Sunday roasts, featuring Leytonstone Tavern’s acclaimed burgers made with 100% grass-fed, aged beef from small Yorkshire farms via Swaledale Butchers.​
• Signature Bone Daddy Burger exclusive to Empire Tavern includes smoked, braised beef brisket, confit garlic mayo, Guinness gravy, crispy onions, and smoked bone marrow.​
• Snacks offer bold flavours such as smoked ham and cheese croquettes with pineapple jam and mustard mayo, house hash browns with Cacklebean egg and chip shop curry sauce, loaded nachos with venison chilli, sticky miso honey chicken wings, and grilled halloumi with hot honey, toasted almonds, and lemon thyme.​
• Sunday roasts emulate Leytonstone Tavern’s style, using free-range meat from Swaledale Butchers, including flavourful roast picanha beef with thick, crispy fat and Tamworth pork.​
• Daytime features co-working space, early morning coffee from Flying Horse Coffee, and afternoon meetings with lunch.​
• Drinks showcase East London Brewing Co.’s beers and cask ales, rotating selections from local breweries like Howling Hop and Saint Monday, high-quality spirit cocktails, and £10 margaritas with Tiempo tequila.​
• Design draws from upstate New York diners and dive bars: dark wood booths, classic red leather seating, warm seventies vintage lighting, new mezzanine for seating and events, high-quality audio booth nodding to co-founders’ music background and Hackney’s scene, plus large retractable door for alfresco seating up to 50 overlooking upgraded Hackney Town Hall Square.​
• Fridays and Saturdays transform into Empire Tavern Lates with curated music, local DJs, and dancing into early hours; events include weekly/monthly happenings, seasonal celebrations, and calendar highlights.​
• Monthly “First Pours” events for collaborative beer launches with guest breweries and Tiempo tequila tastings, hosted by James Healey, Commercial Director of East London Brewing Co., and James Hughston, Co-Founder of Tiempo Tequila.​
• Taverns East Pub Group founded by East Londoners Ronnie Finch, Owner & Director, and Jamie Tack, Owner & Head of Food, who share passions for hospitality, food, music, and proper boozers; group includes award-winning Leytonstone Tavern (National Burger Awards finalist 2023, Street Food Championship wins 2022 and 2024).​
• Empire Bar closure noted, with refurbishment underway; promises all-day dining, burgers, roasts, Taco Tuesdays, Flying Horse Coffee, independent beers, premium agave spirits, and late-night listening parties.​
• East London Brewing Co. founded 2011 in Leyton by Stu and Claire (remaining shareholders), leadership to Ronnie Finch in 2024; beers include East End Lager, Foundation Bitter, Twist Hazy Pale Ale.​
• Leytonstone Tavern opened 2018 by Ronnie Finch, known for best burgers, sustainably sourced produce, craft beers; Ronnie Finch stated at launch: “there’s lots of great things happening in the area at the moment and The Tavern aims to be the neighbourhood pub at the heart of it all.”​

Hackney (East London Times) March 5, 2026 – Empire Tavern, a vibrant new pub diner from Taverns East Pub Group and East London Brewing Co., prepares to launch on Friday 20 March next to the iconic Hackney Empire on Mare Street. This joint venture aims to revive a historic site once home to the Victorian pub The Britannia, lost in World War II, and more recently the Empire Bar, which has closed for refurbishment. Local residents, workers, and theatre-goers can anticipate a welcoming space blending community pub vibes with high-quality dining and events.​

What Is the Empire Tavern?

The Empire Tavern emerges as a thoughtfully designed venue at the crossroads of Hackney’s cultural heartbeat, conveniently sited opposite Hackney Town Hall and adjacent to Hackney Empire at 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ. As described in announcements from the partners, it fuses the “pub at heart” mentality with destination dining, ensuring accessibility while delivering premium experiences. This follows the closure of the previous occupant, the Empire Bar, known for live music, classic cocktails, and events from 8am to 2am, now undergoing transformation.

Taverns East Pub Group, founded by Ronnie Finch, Owner & Director, and Jamie Tack, Owner & Head of Food – both East Londoners passionate about hospitality, food, music, and “proper boozers” – brings expertise from successful spots like Leytonstone Tavern and Tavern On The Hill in Walthamstow. East London Brewing Co., established in 2011 in Leyton by Stu and Claire (who remain shareholders), pairs this with brewing prowess, under majority owner Ronnie Finch since 2024. As reported by East London Times drawing from London on the Inside, the space

“is being refurbished and will be reopening as the Empire Tavern, a joint venture by two fellow East London booze businesses.”​

The venue promises the same passionate quality that has made Leytonstone Tavern a beloved fixture, turning first-time visitors into regulars through consistency and word-of-mouth. It positions itself for diverse crowds: locals seeking a neighbourhood hangout, daytime workers utilising co-working (a rarity in Hackney Central), and theatre patrons grabbing pre- or post-show bites.

Why Is Empire Tavern Opening Next to Hackney Empire?

The prime location next to Hackney Empire – a cultural landmark with a history of performances including a 60-seat orchestra pit added in its 2004 refurbishment – makes Empire Tavern ideal for theatre synergy. London on the Inside, as cited by East London Times journalist, notes visitors to Mare Street “will have noticed that the Empire Bar… next to the Hackney Empire, is no more,” creating space for this revival. Its placement opposite the newly invested Hackney Town Hall Square, with a large retractable door for alfresco seating up to 50, enhances its role in the area’s social scene.

This move taps into Hackney’s dynamic vibe, where pubs like The Cock Tavern (315 Mare Street, 22 taps) and The Old Ship thrive amid a resilient craft scene despite closures like Hackney Brewery’s taproom. As a Facebook post in a London pubs group from 17 February 2026 states,

“The premises is to reopen as the Empire Tavern… right next to a Hackney icon,”

underscoring community excitement. The site’s Victorian roots as The Britannia add historical depth to the project.

What Food Can Customers Expect at Empire Tavern?

Food anchors the Empire Tavern concept, with casual all-day dining spanning breakfast, lunch, evening meals, pre-theatre specials, and epic Sunday roasts mirroring Leytonstone Tavern’s renowned offerings. Central to the menu are the much-revered Leytonstone Tavern burgers, built on a signature 100% grass-fed, aged beef blend with ideal fat ratio from Yorkshire small farms, handled by Swaledale Butchers, cooked to order for satisfying reliability. Exclusive here is the Bone Daddy Burger: smoked, braised beef brisket, confit garlic mayo, Guinness gravy, crispy onions, and a hunk of smoked bone marrow – a bold, decadent choice.​

Snacks deliver punchy flavours, including smoked ham and cheese croquettes with pineapple jam and mustard mayo; house hash browns with Cacklebean egg and chip shop curry sauce; loaded nachos topped with venison chilli; sticky miso honey chicken wings; and lighter grilled halloumi with hot honey, toasted almonds, and lemon thyme. Sunday roasts feature free-range, responsibly sourced meat from Swaledale Butchers, such as pork from Tamworth pigs and picanha beef with thick, crispy fat layer. London on the Inside promises “burgers, roasts, Taco Tuesdays,” aligning with Leytonstone Tavern’s award-winning reputation (National Burger Awards finalist 2023, Street Food Championships 2022/2024).​

What Drinks and Events Will Empire Tavern Offer?

East London Brewing Co.’s beers and cask ales take centre stage, joined by rotating selections from independents like Howling Hop and Saint Monday, plus high-quality spirit cocktails and £10 margaritas using smooth Tiempo tequila. Daytime perks include expert Flying Horse Coffee for early risers and meetings. Premium agave spirits nod to collaborations, with monthly “First Pours” events for beer launches and tequila tastings hosted by James Healey, Commercial Director of East London Brewing Co., and James Hughston, Co-Founder of Tiempo Tequila, uniting professionals and locals.​

Events elevate the vibe: Fridays and Saturdays become Empire Tavern Lates, a listening-bar with curated music and local DJs, dancing till early hours; plus weekly/monthly happenings, seasonal celebrations, and key calendar events. A high-quality audio booth honours the co-founders’ music industry roots and Hackney’s scene, evolving from the Empire Bar’s live music legacy. Late-night listening parties continue that tradition post-theatre.

How Is Empire Tavern Designed?

Departing from Taverns East’s usual aesthetic, Empire Tavern embraces dive-bar style inspired by upstate New York diners: dark wood booths, classic red leather seating, warm seventies vintage lighting. A new mezzanine adds seating and event space above the bar. With warmer weather in mind, a large retractable door overlooks the upgraded Hackney Town Hall Square for outdoor seating up to 50. This creates an inviting, community-focused interior primed for Hackney’s bustling energy.​

Who Are the Key Figures Behind Empire Tavern?

Ronnie Finch, Owner & Director of Taverns East Pub Group and majority shareholder of East London Brewing Co. since 2024, leads with his track record: opening Leytonstone Tavern in 2018 (his third pub after The Duke in Wanstead and The Coach & Horses in Leyton), where he said,

“there’s lots of great things happening in the area at the moment and The Tavern aims to be the neighbourhood pub at the heart of it all.”

Jamie Tack, Owner & Head of Food, shares Finch’s vision for quality hospitality. James Healey of East London Brewing Co. and James Hughston of Tiempo Tequila will host events. East London Brewing Co., founded by Stu and Claire, produces East End Lager, Foundation Bitter, and Twist Hazy Pale Ale.

When Will Empire Tavern Open and What’s Next?

Set for Friday 20 March 2026, the opening aligns with ongoing refurbishments noted since February 2026, though some reports lack exact dates, focusing on imminent progress. As London on the Inside indicates via East London Times, it’s “coming soon” with all-day readiness. Locals can express interest via [email protected] or the site at 289-291 Mare Street. This addition bolsters Hackney’s pub landscape, promising enduring appeal through quality, community, and culture.