Key Points
- The Empire Bar, a live music venue, bar, and kitchen located next to the Hackney Empire on Mare Street in Hackney, has closed and is undergoing refurbishment.
- The space at 291 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1EJ, will reopen as the Empire Tavern, a joint venture between two East London businesses: Leyton-based East London Brewing Co. and the Leytonstone Tavern.
- East London Brewing Co., founded in 2011 in Leyton, produces beers including East End Lager, Foundation Bitter, and Twist Hazy Pale Ale, with leadership transferred in 2024 to majority shareholder Ronnie Finch, an experienced hospitality operator.
- The Leytonstone Tavern, an independent community-focused neighbourhood pub and dining room in Leytonstone, E11, is known for some of the city’s best burgers and sustainably sourced produce paired with craft beers.
- The Empire Tavern is advertised as “All day dining, pub at heart”, promising burgers, roasts, Taco Tuesdays, coffee from Flying Horse Coffee, independent beers, and premium agave spirits.
- It will serve as a hangout spot pre- or post-theatre visits to the adjacent Hackney Empire, with late-night listening parties on weekends.
- No specific menu details or exact reopening date have been announced yet, but the refurbishment is underway on Mare Street.
Hackney (East London Times) February 20, 2026 – The former Empire Bar next to the iconic Hackney Empire on Mare Street is being transformed into the Empire Tavern, a new pub venture by Leyton-based East London Brewing Co. and the Leytonstone Tavern, as reported in a recent article on London on the Inside. This joint project promises all-day dining with a pub atmosphere, featuring burgers, roasts, and more, positioning it as a convenient spot for theatre-goers. Local beer enthusiasts and food lovers anticipate its reopening amid ongoing refurbishments in the vibrant Hackney area.
What Is the Empire Tavern?
The Empire Tavern represents a collaboration between two established East London hospitality players taking over the 291 Mare Street premises previously occupied by the Empire Bar, a venue known for live music, bar services, and kitchen offerings. As detailed by 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.”
This move builds on the location’s proximity to the Hackney Empire, a historic theatre at the same address that underwent its own major refurbishment in 2001-2004.
East London Brewing Co., based in Leyton, brings its brewing expertise to the table. The company, among the first new-generation craft breweries in East London since 2011, produces core beers like Foundation Bitter—its first brew—and others such as East End Lager and Twist Hazy Pale Ale. In 2024, leadership shifted to Ronnie Finch, a serial investor in hospitality who is also majority shareholder, signalling a growth phase that now extends to this pub project.
Partnering with it is the Leytonstone Tavern in E11, described on Canvas Events as “an independent, community focused, neighbourhood pub and dining room” famed for its award-winning burgers, tacos, and ethically sourced produce. Originally opened by Ronnie Finch in 2018 as his third pub—following The Duke in Wanstead and The Coach & Horses in Leyton—the Tavern has built a reputation for quality food and craft beers.
Why Is This Happening Next to Hackney Empire?
The site’s adjacency to the Hackney Empire makes it ideal for a pub catering to theatre crowds. London on the Inside notes that visitors to Mare Street
“will have noticed that the Empire Bar… next to the Hackney Empire, is no more,”
paving the way for this revival. The Hackney Empire itself, a cultural landmark, offers bars within its auditorium but lacks an external pre/post-show pub immediately adjacent, creating an opportunity for the Empire Tavern to fill that gap.
As per the announcement, the new venue “will be a place to hang out pre- or post-theatre,” enhancing the local nightlife around this Hackney icon. A Facebook post in a London pubs group echoes this, stating
“The premises is to reopen as the Empire Tavern… right next to a Hackney icon.”
This positioning leverages the theatre’s draw, which includes a 60-seat orchestra pit added during its 2004 reopening, attracting opera and diverse performances.
What Food and Drinks Can Visitors Expect?
While full menu details remain forthcoming, promises are tantalising. London on the Inside reports:
“We’re being promised burgers, roasts, taco Tuesdays, coffee from Flying Horse, independent beers and premium agave spirits.”
Given the partners’ strengths, East London Brewing Co. will likely feature its lineup prominently, including the award-winning Foundation Bitter and seasonal specials brewed with an eye on consistency and quality.
The Leytonstone Tavern’s influence suggests top-tier burgers, as highlighted in its Instagram for “some of the city’s best burgers.” All-day food service aligns with its “pub at heart” ethos, complemented by weekend late-night listening parties for a music nod to the old Empire Bar. Flying Horse Coffee adds a daytime appeal, while premium agave spirits cater to cocktail seekers.
Who Are the Businesses Behind It?
East London Brewing Co. was founded in 2011 by Stu and Claire, who remain involved as shareholders, but Ronnie Finch now leads as majority owner. The brewery emphasises East London heritage, collaborating with local makers and supporting community initiatives. Its beers, from cask to can, have been available in London pubs since mid-2011.
Ronnie Finch’s Leytonstone Tavern, opened in late 2018 in a former Woodhouse Tavern saved by community order, focuses on neighbourhood vibes with Tuesday-to-Sunday hours and acclaim for burgers and beers. 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.”
This joint venture unites brewing prowess with proven pub operations.
When Will the Empire Tavern Open?
Specific reopening dates have not been disclosed in available reports, with focus on the ongoing refurbishment. London on the Inside indicates it’s “coming” soon, advertised as ready for all-day operations. The Facebook group post from February 17, 2026, confirms the plans are advancing. Given the current date of February 20, 2026, locals on Mare Street may see progress imminently, though no exact timeline is provided.
How Does It Fit Hackney’s Pub Scene?
Hackney’s Mare Street boasts a lively pub ecosystem, including The Cock Tavern at 315 Mare Street with 22 taps and beard-friendly fame, and The Old Ship nearby for events. The Empire Tavern slots in as a dining-focused addition next to cultural hub Hackney Empire, differentiating via its brewery ties and theatre synergy. Amid closures like Hackney Brewery’s taproom, this signals resilience in East London’s craft scene.
