The George Tavern

Established sometime around 1623, it’s fair to say that The George Tavern has a fair bit of history attached to it. However, it is over the past decade that it has built a reputation as one of East London’s most diverse pubs and performance spaces.

Hosting theatre, live bands, DJs, performance art and cabaret it is as much a cultural space as it is a classic old boozer. The look is all public house class. Located in a listed building on the corner of Commercial Road and Jubilee Street, its distance from the bright lights of Hackney, Shoreditch and similar popular East End nightlife draws means it promotes its own agenda. A melting pot of creativity, it draws some of the best artists from around the city.

The paint is peeling, the furniture is rickety and there used to be an old abandoned car in the back yard. The George isn’t your average pub, even when it’s filled with hip locals, artists and musicians it retains its trad appeal.

The only let down is the roll call of rather dull lagers behind the bar, however, nobody really seems to mind, not when there’s an evening of anti-folk on, a one-man play in residence or a record label night arranged for the pleasure of the culture-spoilt customers. There aren’t many pubs that offer the eclectic events that the George Tavern does, which is why in this part of London at least, it has always been a one-off worth supporting.