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All-day dining, local craft beer and community hub

Empire Tavern, a new pub diner, opened on Friday 20th March, located conveniently next to Hackney Empire. It brings together the expertise of Taverns East Pub Group (Leytonstone Tavern and Tavern On The Hill) and East London Brewing Co. in a joint venture to revive the iconic Victorian pub, The Britannia, which was destroyed in World War II. Taverns East are renowned for their superb burgers, earning National Burger Awards finalist status in 2023.

Hackney residents can now enjoy the same passionate approach to quality that has made the Leytonstone Tavern and Tavern on the Hill (Walthamstow) beloved local fixtures. Designed as a vibrant space for locals, workers and theatre-goers alike, Empire Tavern sits at the heart of Hackney’s social and cultural scene, as part of the Hackney Empire and opposite Hackney Town Hall. The venue blends pub warmth with destination dining, craft drinks and a carefully curated programme of music and events.

Food is central to the concept, with casual all-day dining running from breakfast and lunch through to evening dining, pre-theatre and Sunday roasts. The evening menu features the much revered Leytonstone Tavern burgers, having earned a reputation the old-fashioned way: through quality, consistency and word of mouth. That reliability has turned first-time customers into regulars, and regulars into advocates. The burger contains a signature 100% grass-fed, aged beef blend with the ideal fat ratio from small farms in Yorkshire, expertly handled by Swaledale Butchers. Cooked to order, it is generous without being overworked; satisfying, familiar and confidently executed. Exclusive to Empire Tavern is the Bone Daddy Burger featuring, among other additions, smoked, braised beef brisket, confit garlic mayo, Guinness gravy, crispy onions and a hunk of smoked bone marrow — a bold, deeply decadent choice.

Snacks deliver bold flavours, from smoked ham and cheese croquettes with pineapple jam and mustard mayo, to house hash browns with Cacklebean egg and chip shop curry sauce. Other highlights include loaded nachos topped with venison chilli and sticky miso honey chicken wings. For something lighter, grilled halloumi with hot honey, toasted almonds and lemon thyme offers a sweet-savoury alternative.

Empire Tavern emulates Leytonstone Tavern’s epic, ever-popular Sunday roasts. Meat is free range and responsibly sourced from Swaledale Butchers, with pork coming from Tamworth. Empire Tavern’s flavourful roast picanha beef has a layer of thick, crispy fat.

A welcoming ‘pub mentality’ ensures Empire Tavern remains accessible and community-focused, while still delivering a high-quality, experience-led offering. Co-working is welcome during the day (a rarity in Hackney Central), with plenty of space for early morning coffee from experts Flying Horse Coffee. Visitors can also pitch up for afternoon meetings and lunch.

Empire Tavern showcases the best of East London Brewing Co.’s beers and cask ales, alongside a rotating selection of local independent breweries such as Howling Hop and Saint Monday. Cocktails are made with high quality spirits and include £10 margaritas made with smooth Tiempo tequila.

Design-wise, customers can expect a diversion from the Taverns East pub aesthetic, embracing dive bars at Empire Tavern. Inspiration comes from upstate New York diners; dark wood booths, classic red leather seating and warm seventies vintage lighting all feature. A new mezzanine level allows for more seating and event space above the bar. The high-quality audio booth is a nod to the co-founders’ music industry background and Hackney’s dynamic music scene. For warmer weather, Empire Tavern features a large retractable door overlooking Hackney Town Hall Square, which is currently benefitting from significant investment and upgrade. Alfresco seating is available for up to 50 people.

Fridays and Saturdays see the venue transform into Empire Tavern Lates, a listening-bar-style experience featuring curated music and local DJs, with dancing into the early hours. The events programme includes weekly and monthly happenings, seasonal celebrations and “must-visit” calendar moments.

Empire Tavern also hosts monthly “First Pours” events; collaborative beer launches with guest breweries and Tiempo tequila tastings. These bring together industry professionals and the local community, hosted by James Healey, Commercial Director of East London Brewing Co., and James Hughston, Co-Founder of Tiempo Tequila.

Taverns East Pub Group is an independent hospitality group founded by two East Londoners, Ronnie Finch, Owner & Director, and Jamie Tack, Owner & Head of Food. The pair share a passion for hospitality, food, music and proper boozers. The group includes the much-acclaimed Leytonstone Tavern, which has built a widespread reputation for community spirit and destination food, earning multiple awards, including National Burger Awards finalist status in 2023 and Street Food Championship wins in 2022 and 2024.

Empire Tavern is committed to being a fair employer, proudly paying the London Living Wage.