The Gun, Homerton, E9

Visited 02/09/26. Visited previously 14/05/18. No cask. Keg offering of Guinness, Asahi, their own branded Gun lager, Five Points XPA and Lager, Jubel Peach lager, Cornish Orchards cider and the Meantime Anytime IPA. Great to see this corner venue re-opened after a period of closure. Bare boarded with the leather padded (front of) bar counter off the left-hand wall. Green leather banquettes around the front and left-hand side ahead of the bar counter and down the front part of the right-hand side all serving regular tables with similarly upholstered small stools the other side thereof. Tall table in the rear left-hand corner by a fridge hanging some of the meat cuts available in the first-floor restaurant. Single screen was switched off on my visit and a pounding soundtrack playing not fitting of the venue, albeit the lighting was pleasantly low and ambient.

This is a small, corner pub dating from the mid-19th century visited for the first time the other night as part of a local three-hole mini-crawl, attracted primarily by the fine Whitbread carved wood gilded fascia and, as I was to find out, a rather good illuminated Whitbread and Mackeson bar parapet, probably dating from the 1950s (see photo). The pub is no longer tatty, so perhaps has had a lockdown spruce up. It’s quite a small narrow room, plainly appointed indeed. Lighting here is clearly being rationed, as there isn’t much of it, most coming from a rather naff red neon sign to the rear, reading ‘Secret Plans and Clever Tricks’ which means nothing to me. The floor is modern bare boarded and due to the lack of light, I couldn’t determine the colour of the leatherette to the peripheral banquette. Otherwise, there were some ordinary contemporary tables (with tea lights in red glass holders) and low chairs with high stools, the modern bar which has a front upholstered in soft panel sections, presumably to prevent damaged knees; above is the period illuminated bar parapet. The walls are white with a textured white ceiling, supporting three glass lights which may also date from the ‘50s. There’s no décor apart from the neon sign. Music played, but at such a low level that it sounded tinny, like it was coming from a can attached to a piece of string. I knew in advance that there’s no real ale here, but I was expecting something a bit more crafty from the two chrome founts each dispensing five ales, Guinness and a cider, but due to the lack of light and a few of the taps’ fisheye bulbs having blown, I couldn’t tell what they were. Otherwise, Thornbridge Green Mountain, Keller Pils, a Gun-branded something (provenance unknown) and Camden Hells which set me back £5.80 which tasted like Camden Hells lager. I didn’t really take to this place. The ambience is poor, it doesn’t really fulfil the ‘craft’ definition and the Kenton is across the road, which may one day resume real ale sales.

An ex Whitbread pub that now has a new direction in life as a craft bar,a single somewhat tatty room still had the feel of a pub with some low height tables and stools as well as some leather banquette seating.I don't recall any evidence of any cask beer, just 10 keg taps and indeed I ended up with a Camden Hells. I did quite like the feel of the pub and would have another look if nearby.