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Shot by a City Insiders curator.
Cock Tavern
★ 4.0(1 review)Bar
classiclocalcozy
About the Vibe
The Cock Tavern is the kind of pub you walk into and immediately think, "This is a bloody good spot." It's dark, uncomplicated, and filled with the kind of merry conversation that only happens when people are genuinely enjoying themselves. The walls are buffed wood the colour of Burton mild, the floor and furniture are comfortably scuffed, and aside from the Victorian beards on the bar staff, it could be any era between 1920 and now. It's not too big, not too small—it's just right. What really sets it apart is the fabulous beer and cider selection, which is one of the widest you'll find in Hackney. The food is gloriously simple: a bartop cabinet displays Scotch eggs, pork pies, and a jar of pickled eggs. It's the perfect place to stand and drink beer with friends, or even on your own, without feeling out of place. The tiny beer garden is, well, tiny (only an estate agent would call it a garden), but it's better than smoking on Mare Street.
Known For
- •wide cider and beer selection
- •Scotch eggs and pork pies
- •dark wood interior
- •Victorian-style bar staff
Best For
after-work drinkscasual pub visitssolo pint
1 review
City InsidersEditorialApril 1, 2026
A Proper London Pub
The Cock Tavern is a proper London pub that doesn't try too hard. You walk in and it just feels right—dark wood, scuffed floors, and the kind of atmosphere where you can actually hear yourself think if you want to, or join in the conversation if you don't. The beer and cider selection is genuinely impressive for a neighborhood pub, and the simple food like Scotch eggs and pickled eggs is exactly what you want when you're just looking for a good pint and a bit of sustenance.
It's not fancy, and it doesn't need to be. The space is perfectly sized—not too big to feel anonymous, not too small to feel cramped. The staff have that old-school pub charm, and the whole place feels like it's been here forever (which, in many ways, it has). If you're looking for somewhere to grab a pint without the pretension, this is it.
Lire en français
Le Cock Tavern est un vrai pub londonien qui n'essaie pas d'être trop quelque chose. On y entre et tout semble naturel : bois sombre, sols écornés, et une ambiance où l'on peut vraiment entendre ses propres pensées si on le souhaite, ou rejoindre la conversation si on ne le fait pas. La sélection de bières et de cidres est vraiment impressionnante pour un pub de quartier, et la nourriture simple comme les Scotch eggs et les œufs pickles est exactement ce qu'on veut quand on cherche juste une bonne pinte et un peu de nourriture.
Ce n'est pas chic, et ça n'a pas besoin de l'être. L'espace est parfaitement dimensionné—ni trop grand pour se sentir anonyme, ni trop petit pour se sentir à l'étroit. Le personnel a ce charme de pub d'autrefois, et tout l'endroit donne l'impression d'être là pour toujours (ce qui, en bien des sens, est le cas). Si vous cherchez un endroit pour prendre une pinte sans la prétention, c'est ici.