Altar is a bar, record shop and music venue spread across two floors in Leytonstone, on the site that was once home to local music institution Luna. Run by a team of music and hospitality specialists, it takes its name from the historic church it overlooks and opened in October 2026.
The ground-floor bar nods to 1970s mid-century design, with a high-gloss tiled bar, low rust-orange lighting, curved wood-panelled banquettes, velvet upholstery and chrome fixtures. In a narrow nook off the bar sits a tiny record shop run with Dreamhouse Records, stocking new and used vinyl alongside merch. If the record you want isn’t on the shelves, a retro landline connects you straight to Dreamhouse to request it.
The cocktails come from the team behind Chop Shop Tavern. The Caprese Gimlet mixes gin with tomato, basil and black pepper, the Olive Martini pairs olive oil-infused vodka with Manzanilla, Dolin Dry and a house-blended brine, and the Chunks Sgroppino tops liqueur and Prosecco with lemon gelato from Leyton’s Chunks Provisions. Beers and wines round out the list. Food is all about hot dogs, from the classic ‘Ballpark’ to a chilli bacon cheese dog, with specials such as a banh mi hot dog dressed with pate, kachumber, chilli-pickled carrot and crispy onion, and a currywurst topped with mango chutney, raita, kachumber and crushed poppadom. Specials change monthly and seasonally, and there are vegetarian options.
Downstairs, the 100-capacity basement swaps velvet for exposed concrete and stainless steel, built around a state-of-the-art sound system that hosts gigs, club nights, film screenings and art events. Programming comes from local music figures including Simon Singleton of Shake The High Road festival, Jon Clifford of Dreamhouse Records and Toby L, founder of Transgressive, FORM Presents and Up The Game. Drinks down here keep it simple, with beers, wines and draught cocktails, so the focus stays on the stage.