The Gun in Hackney has reopened under new ownership after closing last year
After a beloved Hackney pub abruptly closed its doors last year, a big hole in Hackney’s cultural scene was left. Yet, only a year later, the pub has reopened under new ownership with the promise to keep its charm.
Kotaro Ogawa, the man behind Mayfair’s fine dining Japanese steakhouse Aragawa, has now decided to bring a taste of Japan to Well Street while retaining the British staple of pub culture. He aims to blend Japanese food with the pub aesthetic that he loves.
The Gun in Well Street is one of the most famous pubs in Hackney, a standout on the corner of Cresset Street with its green ceramic tiles and Victorian shopfront dating back to 1860. It was also a favourite for live gigs among music-loving locals and known for its intimate atmosphere, with a capacity of just 90 people.
He told MyLondon: “The pub is something you have to protect. Ever since I came to the country, I always wanted to have one. The pub is beautiful. I love the culture of it. I wanted to bring a blend of Japanese culture to pubs. I’ve been looking for a pub for the last five years. I love East London, the people, the culture, the diversity. The first time I saw The Gun was a few months ago and then I signed a couple weeks later – I fell in love with the location and this type of pub.
“I don’t want to change much. It’s a nice pub. I only added small touches of Japanese culture. I want people to still enjoy coming to the pub. Of course having good food is good but if you come: drink beer, meet people, that’s what the pub is about. We are just helping to assist. I want to help the pub, I’m not here to make a Japanese pub empire – I want to be a part of the culture.”
Kotaro is based in West London but he’s always had an affinity for East London. When he saw that The Gun was available, he knew he had to act fast and take it over. He’s seen many pubs struggling for years due to the cost-of-living crisis, and he understands the importance of maintaining cultural icons like The Gun and what they mean to the community.
The pub has retained many of its traditional fixtures, such as the signage out front and the chic interiors. Inside, bonsai trees are dotted around, adding a bit of Japan to Hackney. There will be a range of Japanese dishes offered instead of traditional pub food, like miso lettuce, Japanese steak, matcha ice cream and red bean taiyoki. Kotaro hopes to showcase Japanese food to a new audience. He also hopes to be able to still be a place for Hackney locals to come and feel welcomed.
He said: “We’ve had old regulars walk past as we were opening saying how happy they are to see The Gun opening again. That makes me happy to see those people. Everybody on the street, when we were preparing to open, everybody was asking when are we opening and were being so nice to us. I want to make people happy and doing that in the food industry is hard but to see people happy, talking, saying thank you to us for reopening, that’s why I’m in the industry.
“I’ve seen many areas change very rapidly. I want to protect it but also bring something new. I’ve seen pubs closing everywhere. I love independent restaurants and seeing people from the local community getting to enjoy it.”
The pub will offer traditional beers alongside a selection of Japanese whiskey, Sake as well as the Japanese staple Asahi. The Gun is located at 235 Well Street, E9 6RG.
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