The Cork & Bottle pub on the corner of Fleet Road and Constantine Road in South End Green reopened on January 16 under new owners.
Speaking to the Ham&High at the time, manager Michaela Hickey said the plan then was to put up a sign with its former name – The White Horse.
But the pub, refreshed with a smart green livery, is now called The South End Green Social.
Sunday Speed Quizzing and a pizza menu suggests it is set to live up to its name.
According to CAMRA’s website, the current building dates back to 1907 and is a “neighbourhood gem,” with an important historic pub interior of fine oak bar panelling, decorative ceiling, stained glass, and decorative fireplaces.
It was originally called The White Horse and was said to be a haunt of 1984 author George Orwell when he worked at a bookshop opposite in the 1930s.
But the watering hole – on a prominent corner site – has a chequered recent history.
Its future looked uncertain when it was boarded up for a year in 2020 before re-emerging as The Cork and Bottle.
Despite stocking more than 300 bottles of wine and featuring an outside garden, the third venue in The Cork and Bottle chain struggled and closed.
Then in 2021 the East London Pub Co, which ran the Ten Bells in Spitalfields and the Lock Tavern in Camden Town, leased the pub and had plans to call it The Bell of Hampstead – but the firm went into administration in 2023.
The pub finally reopened again in January, taken on by Enda Murray and Declan O’Brien of the Drumcreela Pub Company.
At the time it was serving only drinks but manager Michaela Hickey told the Ham&High there were plans to install a new kitchen and start serving Sunday roasts and “be part of the community.”
Now the pub is taking bookings, and there’s even a Sunday evening quiz run by the same folk who were regulars at the now closed Gipsy Queen.
The South End Green Social is open from 12pm to 11pm daily at 154 Fleet Road, South End Green. Get in touch at bookings@southendsocialnw3.co.uk
