Former home of Hackney's The Gun acquired by fine dining group

A new restaurant is set to launch within the former home of Hackney's beloved pub and music venue, The Gun, after it was reportedly purchased by a high-end restaurant group.

The new venue, also called The Gun, will open on Monday (February 23), almost a year after The Gun was shuttered; according to Hot Dinners, the space has been acquired by J-Pub Holdings, the team behind a fine dining Japanese steakhouse in Mayfair. 

While it’s currently unclear whether the space will continue its musical endeavours – previously hosting DJ events with the likes of Daniel Avery, Optimo, and Lena Willikens – The Gun’s new Instagram page indicates it may serve as a restaurant and pub instead.

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“Come for the Guinness. Stay for the wagyu,” reads The Gun’s bio, alongside reopening dates for the much-loved Well Street boozer.

It comes almost exactly a year after the venue announced its indefinite closure following more than a decade in operation, citing rising costs in the hospitality sector.

Co-founder Nick Stephens said at the time that venue faced “many challenges over the years”, but despite its efforts, the team made the decision to close due to it becoming “unsustainable”.

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The Gun first opened in June 2014, often operating as a 90-capacity venue for intimate live music events, occasionally hosting charity shows with both local and international DJs.

During the pandemic in 2020, The Gun faced the threat of closure amidst “a turbulent time for hospitality”, later raising £30,000 in a single day through a crowdfunding campaign to support its future.

Following The Gun’s closure last year, the venue’s owners went on to focus on their “thriving” Islington pub, The Compton Arms.

Stay up to date with The Gun’s reopening here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on X