This September, The Marksman, the much-loved Hackney Road pub and dining room run by friends Tom Harris and Jon Rotheram, celebrates its 10th birthday.
Opened in 2015 to revive the spirit of the traditional East End boozer, The Marksman quickly earned a reputation for its friendly bar, perfectly kept pints, and skilful yet unfussy food.
The Grade II-listed pub retains much of its original 1865 interior, dark mahogany panelling, green leather banquettes, and original floorboards, while upstairs, designer Martino Gamper’s bold linoleum floor and upholstered ceiling bring a contemporary contrast.
Harris and Rotheram, who first met at St John 25 years ago, share a passion for British cookery and great produce. Their work has been recognised with glowing reviews from critics and a Michelin ‘Pub of the Year’ award in 2017. Today, they’re joined by head chef Luke Peacock (ex-Bocca di Lupo, The River Café, Empress E9) and a strong front-of-house team.
The à la carte menu draws on traditional British cooking, inspired by the likes of Jane Grigson and Dorothy Hartley, but rooted firmly in the present. Dishes might include cod with clams, saffron and sea beet; Tamworth chop with IPA mustard; Montgomery cheese puffs; whipped salt cod with hen’s egg and watercress; and house favourites like the beef and barley bun, or the brown butter and honey tart.
Weekly specials add rhythm to the week: Tuesday steak night, Wednesday curry night, a workers’ lunch on Thursdays and Fridays, and Saturday brunch.
Sunday roasts are a local institution, served until 8.30pm, with Hereford rump, Yorkshire pudding, horseradish cream, and Sutton Hoo chicken among the options.
Upstairs, the dining room doubles as an events space for everything from intimate weddings to raucous birthdays, often featuring feasting menus built around dishes like chicken and wild garlic pie.
Just outside, the terrace remains one of London’s worst-kept secrets, a suntrap for mussels, chips, and a glass from the wine list.
Later this summer, The Marksman will announce a series of special menus and events to mark its first decade. Until then, the bar remains open to both drinkers and diners.