In the old days, The Sun Tavern used to be a popular hangout with Bethnal Green’s boxing crowd, including a certain notorious pair of villainous twins. The area, and the clientele, has changed a bit since then, but The Sun is hoping to regain a place at the heart of the community after a takeover by The Umbrella Project – the team behind the hit venue Discount Suit Company.
The Sun Inn, as it was then, was built in 1851, and the weathered plasterwork still clinging to the walls here looks like it might be original – it’s surely old enough to have seen the Krays pop in for a pint. The exterior tiles are certainly original, and the renovation work has in general tried to peel back some layers to reveal bits of the building’s history. A well-worn patina covers almost everything in the main room, with a wooden bar topped with copper forming the centrepiece. Forgotten pre-war cocktail recipes and some new innovations are served up here, along with a selection of local beers. On the food front, Sub Cult have been invited to take up residence at The Sun Tavern and will be providing half a dozen of their most popular sandwiches including the Martin Subsese – not sure about the name, but the filling of cured meats and mozzarella sounds mighty fine.
