The Empress - (Near Hackney, South East)

5 /5 Watcharesuang Tepamat: We arrived at the pub at noon when it just opened. It was spacious, clean, and very beautiful. Greeted by the lovely hostess, we sat by the window and took our time admiring the atmosphere. Nice selection of drinks. Food was great we had the padron pepper, steak, and cod.

5 /5 Fiona Stanton: The Empress is hands down one of my favourite pubs… it’s the perfect mix of relaxed, welcoming, and full of character. I love that it’s dog friendly, my dog absolutely loves coming here and always gets so much attention from the lovely staff and regulars. The food is incredible every single time. I always go for the steak, it’s cooked to perfection, full of flavour, and easily one of the best around. And I can never resist one of their Bloody Marys! They make them just right, perfectly balanced and packed with flavour. The atmosphere is always spot on, whether it’s a lazy afternoon or a busy evening. It feels like a proper local gem, friendly faces, great service, and a lovely buzz.

5 /5 Alex B: Lovely big family pub. Really enjoyed the roast, the beef was cooked really well and was of high quality. Veggies were also cooked perfectly. Friend’s vegan nut roast also hit the spot. Not as good as mum’s, but the sticky toddy pudding was delicious ;-) Would definitely come back with the extended family.

5 /5 Tom Allen: Last night we celebrated a birthday and honestly, it was perfect. Our table was big and private enough for our party, but we still felt part of the buzzing, cosy atmosphere the place offers! I have lived in the area for years, The Empress never fails. The food was absolutely next-level. From starters to desserts, everything was executed beautifully. The chateaubriand was unbelievable and all the other dishes we had on the table were just super tasty, well seasoned etc.. absolutely no negative comment to report. Service was amazing, they were quick to swap cutlery and glasses and cleared empties (We had a lot of different bottles). Everything ran so smoothly! it honestly made the night feel effortless. Great food and great service, thats literally all we wanted. A massive shoutout to Becca, who was an absolute star. Ten out of ten, will definitely be back!