Not already a member?
Join our community and - Rate & review pubs - Upload pictures - Add events JOIN for free NOW

Chat about:
Poll for Lancaster crawl June /July 2026 with Bucking Fastard on the Pub Forum

Image posted by Graham Coombs
Submitted on Sunday, 9^th December 2018
With picture contributions to 5883 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (9 more images)

Only members may add pictures, click to receive free membership

Detail Pages

Pub map
Pub reviews (3)
Pub pictures (10)
Page updates

Empire Tavern, Hackney, E8

289 Mare Street
E8
E8 1EJ

Correct details

Served areas

Hackney

Reviews of Empire Tavern (Average Rating: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Blue Scrumpy left this review about Empire Tavern

Corner theatre bar with a modern feel to it. It wasn't too busy on our Saturday evening visit and we soon found a table. There is also a mezzanine level with further seating.

Just one cask ale was on. This was a perfectly acceptable East London Jamboree. Keg beers included Howling Hops Tropical Deluxe, Pretty Decent The Greatest Love Story, East London Beyond The Tower, Cowcatcher & Lido, Neckstamper Bluffer & Saint Monday Session IPA.

A reasonable addition to the Hackney drinking scene but we soon decanted to the Cock Tavern a little further along the same side of the street.

On 26^th April 2026 - rating: 5
[User has posted 3459 recommendations about 3457 pubs]

David Walton left this review about Empire Tavern

Visited 08/04/26. Visited previously as Three Palms on 16/01/24.

Cask here amounted to two from East London Brewing Co, the Jamboree Golden Ale, and the Nightwatchman dark bitter. Keg amounted to several from the East London Brewing Co, the Cowcatcher APA, the Lido pale ale, the Beyond the Tower IPA, the East London Lager and the East London Pilsner. Non ELBC beers were Guinness, Umbrella cider, Bluffer pale ale from Neckstamper, the session IPA from Saint Monday, the AF Nirvana Pils, the Greatest Lover Story pale ale from Pretty Decent and the Haze Machine from Signature Brew.

Classy pub sandwiched between the town hall and the Hackney Empire. It is bare boarded with the bar counter on the left-hand wall mid venue, with tall tables and tall comfy stools down the middle of the floor space and then some crimson leather booth tables down the right-hand wall. Art deco lighting and a cool soundtrack being played by the DJ in the booth ahead of the bar counter from the large vinyl collection around the booth. No screens and no fruit machines here. There is a mezzanine seating area up a flight of stairs inside the entrance. Didn't go up and check but the seating appeared to be via regular tables and chairs plus some booth tables. Think it is a reasonable addition to the drinking stock around here.

On 12^th April 2026 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1590 recommendations about 1565 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Marie Lloyd Bar

Modern bar, attached to the Hackney Empire, selling three Greene King real ales in addition to a reasonably up-market range of lagers and wines. If going to the adjacent theatre, ask for your drink in a plastic glass so that you can take it in with you (as the bars inside have only a marginally better than usual but still unimaginative selection of drinks).

On 22^nd July 2008 - rating: 7
[User has posted 9119 recommendations about 9119 pubs]

External web links for Empire Tavern

Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.