Cock Tavern, Hackney

315 Mare Street
Hackney
London
E8 1EJ

When I worked for Hackney Council back in the 1990s the Cock Tavern had no real ale. The Old Ship next door sold Courage Best and Directors, so it was no contest for an after-work pint. Things have changed a lot since then because the Cock now is the best pub in Hackney for choice and quality of beer. There are seven or eight cask beers, including a few from Howling Hops Brewery of Hackney Wick who own the pub.

Howling Hops have been a pioneer of tank beer and when they took over the Cock they moved the brewery here and fitted tanks in the cellar. The brewery has since moved to Hackney Wick and the attached Tank Bar which calls itself ‘The UK’s first dedicated tank bar’.

The Cock Tavern is one of a large number of pubs built by Trumans brewery in the 1920s and 1930s and has one of their trademark tiled corner plaques (photo 2).

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