The Gun

Specialties

The Gun is a Grade II listed riverside pub which dates back to the early 18^th century and is situated on the banks of the Thames in Docklands, directly across the water from the O2 Arena and a stone’s throw away from Canary Wharf and Royal Naval Greenwich. The Gun boasts open fireplaces, a riverside terrace, two private dining rooms and an award winning kitchen serving excellent modern British cuisine. During the summer month we also open A Grelha at The Gun, a Portuguese BBQ right on the rivers edge.

History

Established in 2001.

There has been a public house on the site of The Gun for over 250 years. The surrounding area was home to the dockside iron foundries which produced the guns for the Royal Naval fleets in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

The pub took its current name from the cannon which was fired to celebrate the opening of the West India Import Docks in 1802.

In the late 18^th century, Lord Horatio Nelson acquired a property just up the road (still known as Nelson’s House) and he regularly visited the docks to inspect the guns up until his glorious death at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Lord Nelson would frequent The Gun and regularly meet Lady Emma Hamilton in an upstairs room (now called The River Room) for their secret assignations.

The Gun also has a long association with smugglers landing contraband on the site and distributing it via a hidden tunnel. To this day there is still a spy-​hole in the secret circular staircase to watch out for «The Revenue Men».

Meet the Business Owner

Tom and Ed M.

Business Owner

In 2001, a terrible fire destroyed much of the interior of the old building and the pub remained closed for 3 years. Then, current owners and brothers Tom and Ed Martin acquired the premises and spent about 9 months painstakingly restoring the magnificent Grade II listed building in close consultation with English Heritage. Tom and Ed re-​opened the doors in 2004 and have owned and operated The Gun since then to significant critical acclaim.