The Gun Hackney Reopens: Wagyu & Guinness 2026

Key Points

• The Gun, located on Well Street in Hackney, East London, is scheduled to reopen on February 23, 2026, under new ownership by J-Pub Holdings.
• The pub closed with immediate effect in March 2025 due to “unsustainable” trading conditions amid rising hospitality costs, as stated by former landlords Nick Stephens and Hanna Sinclair-Stephens.
• Original founders Nick Stephens, Hanna Sinclair-Stephens, and Oliver Dixon opened The Gun in June 2014 after restoring its Victorian features from around 1860.
• The venue was renowned for its vibrant music scene, hosting DJs like Daniel Avery, Optimo (Ivan Smagghe), Marie Davidson, Roisin Murphy, Ride’s Andy Bell, and Nitzer Ebb in a 90-capacity space.
• It featured popular kitchen residencies, including Ling Ling’s (known for Sunday roasts) and Rake (chefs Jay Claus, Peter Ward, and Syrus Pickhaver serving British classics, whole beast butchery, sustainable Cornish fish, chicken fried John Dory, beer battered cockles, sausage spiced lardo, potted mushroom, stargazey pie, rice pudding with strawberry jam, and Garibaldi mille feuille after a St John-inspired revamp).
• During the 2020 pandemic, a crowdfunding campaign raised over £30,000 in one day to save it; in 2021, it released a 14-track compilation album supporting local charity Hackney Quest.
• New owner Kotaro Ogawa, born October 1970, Japanese national residing in the UK, proprietor of high-end Mayfair steakhouse Aragawa (where 100g of steak costs up to £230), leads J-Pub Holdings (incorporated December 2025) and Japan Pub Limited.
• Reopening concept: “traditional London pub reimagined with Japanese food, drinks and great Guinness”; slogan “Come for the Guinness. Stay for the wagyu”, blending pints with upscale Japanese cuisine like wagyu at more accessible prices.
• Former owners also run The Compton Arms in Islington, where Rake residency moved post-closure.
• Initial reporting on reopening by trade title Propel, followed by Time Out, East London Times, Hot Dinners, and others; no confirmed details on interior changes, full menu, or music plans yet.
• Closure echoed broader sector pressures; revival seen as “where one door closes, another opens”, boosting Hackney’s resilience.​

Hackney, London (East London Times) February 21, 2026 – The Gun, the iconic Well Street pub famed for its music scene and community spirit, is set to welcome punters back from February 23 under the leadership of Kotaro Ogawa and J-Pub Holdings. This revival follows its abrupt closure in March 2025, when former landlords cited “unsustainable” trading amid soaring hospitality costs. The relaunch promises a fusion of classic Guinness pints with premium Japanese wagyu, marking a bold reinvention for the beloved venue.

What Led to The Gun’s Closure in 2025?

The Gun shut its doors with immediate effect on March 16, 2025, after nearly 11 years of operation. As reported by Nick Stephens, co-founder and landlord, in a statement to the Hackney Citizen,

“The Gun has faced many challenges over the years, and despite our very best efforts it has become unsustainable to continue trading.”

Hanna Sinclair-Stephens, fellow landlord, echoed this in coverage by the Morning Advertiser, attributing the decision to “increasing costs of running a hospitality business in the current economy” and “financial strains” on the sector. The Morning Advertiser noted the closure came despite efforts to navigate these pressures.​

Mixmag reported co-founder Nick Stephens adding,

“We hope the future brings an opportunity for Locals Club to create another music-led pub in another location. For now, we’ll be focusing on our thriving Islington pub, The Compton Arms.”

The Caterer similarly highlighted the “‘unsustainable’ trading environment” as the key factor.

Who Are the Original Owners and What Was Their Legacy?

Nick Stephens, Hanna Sinclair-Stephens, and Oliver Dixon founded The Gun in June 2014, lovingly restoring its original Victorian features dating back to around 1860, as detailed by the Morning Advertiser. The trio breathed new life into the Well Street site, turning it into a Homerton favourite.

The pub narrowly escaped closure during the pandemic thanks to a crowdfunding triumph. Hackney Citizen reported it raised over £30,000 in just one day in 2020. Time Out confirmed this feat, noting the team’s ongoing operation of The Compton Arms in Islington.

In 2021, as per Hackney Citizen, The Gun released a 14-track compilation album featuring Roisin Murphy, Ride’s Andy Bell, Nitzer Ebb, and others to support its survival and local charity Hackney Quest. This underscored its deep community ties and music heritage.​

What Made The Gun Iconic in Hackney’s Scene?

The Gun earned acclaim for its vibrant music programming in a cosy 90-capacity space. Mixmag highlighted hosts like Daniel Avery, Optimo (Ivan Smagghe), and Marie Davidson.

Kitchen residencies defined its food appeal. Time Out’s Benjamin McMahon reported on Rake’s July 2024 takeover by chefs Jay Claus, Peter Ward, and Syrus Pickhaver (ex-Acme Fire Cult, Brat, Quo Vadis), offering British classics, whole beast butchery, sustainable Cornish fish, chicken fried John Dory, beer battered cockles, sausage spiced lardo, potted mushroom, stargazey pie, rice pudding with strawberry jam, and Garibaldi mille feuille amid a whitewashed, St John-inspired revamp.​

Earlier, Ling Ling’s ruled with acclaimed Sunday roasts, per Time Out, before departing. These elements fostered a “dedicated following” for its community feel, as noted in initial reports.

Who Is Taking Over The Gun Now?

Kotaro Ogawa, director of J-Pub Holdings Limited (active since December 2025, address: Main Course Partners, One Canada Square, London E14 5AA), leads the acquisition. Companies House records confirm Ogawa, born October 1970, Japanese national UK resident, also directs Japan Pub Limited and Dream Studio International Limited, and heads Aragawa UK Limited at 37-38 Clarges Street, London W1J 7EL.

East London Times reported Ogawa as the “mastermind behind Aragawa, the prestigious Mayfair steakhouse renowned for its ultra-premium wagyu offerings.” Time Out, citing Hot Dinners, affirmed “the man behind the relaunched boozer is Kotaro Ogawa of Mayfair’s fine dining Japanese steakhouse Aragawa.”

Propel was first to break the J-Pub Holdings purchase, as referenced across outlets including East London Times.​

What Changes Can We Expect at the Reopening?

The new vision bills The Gun as a “traditional London pub reimagined with Japanese food, drinks and great Guinness.” East London Times quoted the tease: expectations include premium offerings like wagyu beef, with prices “a shade below” Aragawa’s £230 per 100g.​

“Come for the Guinness. Stay for the wagyu,” per Time Out and Yahoo News. Japanese drinks may feature sake or highballs alongside pints. While kitchen residencies like Ling Ling’s and Rake (now at Compton Arms) defined the past, serious food persists, though its rave history “might all be in the past,” Time Out cautioned.

No specifics on interiors, staffing, or music yet; Propel noted swift turnaround from purchase.​

When Exactly Will The Gun Reopen?

Multiple sources pinpoint February 23, 2026. Time Out stated: “the stalwart of Hackney’s eating and drinking scene will reopen on February 23.” Yahoo News confirmed: “will welcome punters once again from February 23 under new ownership.”

East London Times aligned with “a few weeks time” from their February 16 piece, building anticipation without a precise date then. Mixmag’s February 18 update referenced the imminent launch in the former music venue’s home.

Why Is This Revival Important for Hackney and Pubs?

Hackney’s pub scene has suffered closures amid economic woes, making The Gun’s return a “beacon of resilience,” per East London Times. It merges “East London grit with Mayfair polish,” potentially redefining local dining.​

Propel’s adage, quoted in East London Times—”where one door closes, another opens”—captures the optimism, spotlighting investor confidence in heritage sites. For a borough pulsing with creativity, this hybrid could draw crowds, sustaining cultural icons through adaptation.