Publican Charlie McVeigh, Founder of Draft House, has acquired the legendary Birdcage Public House on Columbia Road Flower Market and saved it from closure. The Birdcage, which served as a backdrop for many of the chilling happenings in the notorious Bodysnatchers trial of the 1830s, was on the brink of bankruptcy after a long period of decline.
The pub will re-open as the sixth Draft House on 30November 2014, trading amongst its neighbours of galleries, antique shops and of course the strip’s famed flower market.
Draft House Birdcage, as at all Draft Houses, will sell the finest craft beer known to humanity. They will have a colossal range of craft beer on draft and in bottle, celebrating local breweries and also buying in from their friends in the USA, Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic.
Optics cocktails will be served at Draft House Birdcage, created by Max Chater of Bump Caves – the radical new bar and distillery opened by Draft House earlier this year in Bermondsey. Optics cocktails, dispensed from traditional 3-litre pub optics bottles, will include the Manhattan, BUMP Martini and BUMP Hi-Bye (all at £5.90).
Pie Mash & Liquor to all comers
Draft House will restore the Birdcage’s East End identity, with the Birdcage kitchen knocking out Pie Mash & Liquor to all comers. These wonderful Pies are hand-crafted and fully encased with short-crust pastry. Fillings include Steak & Ale, Steak & Kidney, Chicken Leek & Ham and Spinach, Sweet Potato & Goat’s Cheese (£6.90).
In true East End style pies will be served with Mushy Marrowfat Peas, and Liquor or Onion Gravy. Diners can add scoops of steaming, buttery Mash (£1 each).
‘Knees-up’ at Birdcage
The weekly Saturday night ‘Knees-up’ at Birdcage will pay homage to the pub’s karaoke traditions, calling in Columbia road’s favourite buskers to back up patrons renditions of old classics.
Draft House will restore the pub’s interior and in particular the Traditional Victorian ash-wood canopy bar, complete fluted columns, decorative moldings and niches. Tan leather banquettes will line the 100-cover pub, which will be lit by antique brass light fixtures, and hung with found artworks from Charlie’s collection.
A caged display of their ever-changing selection of craft beer will be the backdrop for the bar, paired with neon signage and reclaimed industrial light fittings.
Charlie says: “As someone who has banged on for years about saving the pub, I am thrilled to actually save one myself on this historic market street. The building itself has been denuded of many of its original features – and we aim to restore it to its original glory as the key pub on the market.”
Draft House Birdcage, 80 Columbia Road, Bethnal Green, E2 7QB
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Email us birdcage@drafthouse.co.uk