East end pub wins Michelin award

An unassuming pub in East London has been named Michelin pub of the year, fighting off competition from 500 other establishments to become the first pub in the capital to earn the accolade.

The Marksman in Bethnal Green

The “proper neighbourhood pub” in east London is the first pub in the capital to be named Michelin Pub of the Year in the restaurant’s guide’s most recent Eating Out in Pubs Guide. The guide also made the Victorian pub a recipient of a Michelin Bib Gourmand, awarded to venues offering good value and good quality cooking, and a recognised stepping stone to a Michelin star.

“One of the things that we like about the Marksman is that it’s a proper pub first and foremost”, said Rebecca Burr, editor of the Michelin Eating Out In Pubs Guide 2017.

“As such, it’s a relaxed, traditional place to come for a pint of local ale – as well as offering gutsy British dishes made from top-notch produce.”

Located on the corner of Horatio Street and Hackney Road, the Bethnal Green pub is managed by chef owners Tom Harris and and Jon Rotheram, who took ownership in 2015. The pub swiftly underwent a major refurbishment, transforming it from an east end boozer to high-end gastro pub.

As well as offering a wide selection of local ales and craft beers, the judges praised its upmarket cuisine, which retains a twist of the east end, serving up dishes including devilled mussels on toast, skate with shrimps and turnip tops, and pheasant and trotter pie.

Harris previously worked at One Leicester Square and Rotheram was formerly a chef at Jamie Oliver’s 15.

“We are increasingly witnessing how pubs can provide a platform for young chefs to start their own businesses, and how inventive these chefs can be, particularly when it comes to the sourcing of their ingredients”, added Burr.

“The quality of cooking in some of these pubs certainly rivals that of restaurants.”

The Marksman prior to its refurbishment in 2015