The Macbeth

Having opened over 100 years ago, The Macbeth is a proper East End boozer. If these weathered walls could talk, they’d tell you of Franz Ferdinand gigs, rowdy pub brawls and long-standing club nights. It managed to overcome near closure in 2019, and now, thanks to Jamie Allan (who co-founded Four Legs) and front-of-house collaborator Patrick Nolan, it seems there’s life in the old pub yet.

The duo have ripped out the old stage, installing a handsome English oak bar in its place, and restoring the striking 19th century mural. The result? Less polish, more stripped-back charm. We nab a couple of low stools by an antique fireplace, where we will remain for the next three hours. Service is genuine, unhurried and on the right side of casual, and with a house ‘Macbeth’ lager for less than a fiver, it’s worth sticking around.

Akin to Allan’s previous ventures, the menu is an assortment of no-frills, Portuguese-leaning pub snacks - the sort of stuff that goes down well after two pints. Case in point: a dinner plate piled with crusty, sliced baguette, each one slathered liberally with salted butter.

Up next, a glistening heap of marinated mushrooms, complemented by slithers of salty dry-cured jamon. They’re lightly pickled, superbly seasoned and delicately herby, in unfussy Portuguese style. Chamuca-style lamb samosas are fun, flaky and deeply rich, elevated by a dollop of sweet plum chutney. If you can, order both.

Allan’s pork bifana is perfect pint food - heavy on the cheese, gentle on the mustard, and has just the right ratio of bread to soak up the juices. It’s Portugal’s answer to a kebab and you can order one until 11pm here.

The cooking is impressive, but that isn’t what makes The Macbeth shine. In a city where every pub is trying desperately to be gastro, this one is going straight back to its roots. An old-school boozer serving rustic Portuguese plates might sound an unlikely combo, but here it just works - rooted in history, still very much a drinker’s pub, and all the fresher for it.

The Macbeth is an East London icon - a legendary pub and vibrant grassroots performance venue set between Hoxton and Old Street. After a brief pause in 2025, The Macbeth reopened with menus devised by Jamie Allan - former chef at The Plimsoll and co-founder of the cult Four Legs kitchen.

Inspired by Portuguese tasca cuisine, the menu features a range of sharing plates that will be central to the pub's buzz. You can expect dishes like morcela fina (refined Portuguese blood sausage), among other tasty treats.

With the kitchen staying open until late, it’s the perfect spot for a post-gig snack or relaxed evening meal paired with a well-curated selection of local beers, fine wines, and classic cocktails.

Known as both a pub and a performance space, its dual identity remains a key reason why it's so beloved among Londoners, and The Macbeth continues to operate as a cultural and social hub. The venue’s busy calendar includes events such as DJ sets and performances and the accompanying food elevates the experience into something rare, a place where dinner and a gig feel genuinely complementary.

Despite the refurb, the bones of The Macbeth’s iconic look remain - vintage tiles, dark woods, and rough-around-the-edges furniture - an aesthetic synonymous with Hoxton-cool.The old features are joined by a stunning, hand-built, English oak bar and refreshed kitchen, where Allan serves bold, seasonal menus that straddle casual bar dining and serious culinary ambition.

With its layered history, creative energy, and a chef who knows how to balance streetwise cooking with technical finesse, The Macbeth is a draw, not just to music fans but for serious food lovers, too.