The Jugged Hare

The Jugged Hare is a public house and restaurant at 49 Chiswell Street in the City of London, positioned between the Barbican and Moorgate Underground stations. The venue combines a traditional London pub setting with restaurant service and a strong game-oriented character suggested by its name, interior, and culinary identity. The building has nineteenth-century pub heritage. It was originally known as the King's Head, a name associated with the King's Head Brewhouse. That brewhouse was demolished in 1750 and rebuilt as the Whitbread Brewery, linking the site to London's historic brewing and public-house culture. The pub subsequently closed in 2008 during a refurbishment project affecting the brewery-related premises. The site reopened in 2012 under the name The Jugged Hare. It is run by brothers Ed and Tom Martin, hospitality operators who also manage The Gun in London's Docklands and The Prince Arthur in London Fields, among other establishments. The Jugged Hare therefore forms part of a broader London pub and restaurant operating group, although the available reference material does not identify a formal parent company or corporate ownership structure. Its interior uses oak flooring and red leather seating, creating a traditional, club-like pub atmosphere. A collection of stuffed and mounted animals is also part of the decor, reinforcing the venue's countryside and game-related theme. The combination of historic architectural associations, classic pub styling, and restaurant service distinguishes it from a purely drinks-led local pub. At opening, the restaurant received a favorable review from Times restaurant critic Giles Coren, who described it as a strong addition to the operators' pub chain. The available source material does not provide detailed financial information, trading figures, menu history, executive changes, or a documented expansion program. The brand is best understood as a single-site hospitality venue with a City of London location and a distinctive traditional British pub-restaurant concept.

The Jugged Hare occupies a historic pub site at 49 Chiswell Street in the City of London, near the Barbican and Moorgate Underground stations. Before adopting its current identity, the premises operated as the King's Head. The earlier name was associated with the King's Head Brewhouse, which was demolished in 1750 and subsequently rebuilt as the Whitbread Brewery. This history places the location within London's long-standing relationship between brewing, public houses, and urban commercial life. The nineteenth-century pub later closed in 2008 as part of a refurbishment project connected with the former brewery premises. The closure created a gap between the site's earlier King's Head identity and its later incarnation. In 2012, the venue reopened as The Jugged Hare, introducing a new name and a renewed pub-restaurant concept while retaining the site's traditional hospitality function. The reopened venue was run by brothers Ed and Tom Martin. They were already associated with other London hospitality establishments, including The Gun in the Docklands and The Prince Arthur in London Fields. Their involvement placed The Jugged Hare within a wider collection of London pubs and restaurants, though the available references do not specify a legal parent company, ownership vehicle, or formal group name for the business. The venue's design emphasizes an established British pub aesthetic. Oak flooring and red leather seating create a traditional interior, while stuffed and mounted animals provide a distinctive visual motif. These elements support the restaurant's game-oriented identity and differentiate it from a conventional city-centre bar. The name itself also evokes the historic British culinary practice of jugging game, although the supplied reference material does not document a complete menu or specific signature dishes. The reopening attracted favorable critical attention. Giles Coren, writing for The Times, described The Jugged Hare as a very good addition to a good chain of pubs. This review helped establish the venue's early public profile and endorsed its combination of pub atmosphere and restaurant ambitions. The available historical record is limited. It confirms the site's earlier King's Head name, its connection to the Whitbread Brewery context, closure in 2008, reopening as The Jugged Hare in 2012, the involvement of Ed and Tom Martin, and the venue's interior character. It does not establish a separate founding company, provide financial results, document later ownership changes, or describe additional branches under The Jugged Hare name. On the evidence available, the brand is best classified as a London hospitality venue rather than a widely distributed consumer brand.

• 2012

  The Jugged Hare opens

  [1]The Jugged Hareen.wikipedia.org

  The site reopened under the name The Jugged Hare, operated by brothers Ed and Tom Martin.

• 2012

  Favorable opening review

  [1]The Jugged Hareen.wikipedia.org

  Times critic Giles Coren gave the newly opened pub-restaurant a favorable review.

• 2008

  Former pub closes during refurbishment

  [1]The Jugged Hareen.wikipedia.org

  The premises closed as part of a refurbishment project affecting the brewery-related site.

• 1750

  King's Head Brewhouse demolished

  [1]The Jugged Hareen.wikipedia.org

  The King's Head Brewhouse associated with the site's earlier pub name was demolished; it was later rebuilt as the Whitbread Brewery.

A traditional, premium-leaning City of London pub and restaurant combining historic pub character, British hospitality, and a game-oriented dining atmosphere.

• Hospitality venue · 2012

  The Jugged Hare pub and restaurant

  The core offering is a combined public house and restaurant at 49 Chiswell Street. It provides a traditional London pub environment alongside restaurant dining, with a visual and culinary emphasis on British country and game themes. The interior features oak flooring, red leather seating, and mounted animals, making the venue's atmosphere a central part of the customer proposition.

• Food and beverage · 2012

  British pub food and game-oriented dining

  The venue's restaurant identity is associated with British pub dining and game-oriented cuisine. The supplied references do not provide a complete menu or confirm individual signature dishes, so this entry describes the documented positioning rather than attributing specific recipes or menu items.

• 2012

  Rebrand and reopen the former King's Head siteStrategy

  Background

  The former nineteenth-century pub had closed in 2008 during a refurbishment project.

  Action taken

  Ed and Tom Martin reopened the premises in 2012 under the new name The Jugged Hare, retaining a pub function while presenting the site as a restaurant-led hospitality venue with a distinctive game theme.

  Aftermath

  The reopening received favorable attention from Times critic Giles Coren, who regarded it as a strong addition to the operators' London pub portfolio.

  Source

1. 1The Jugged Hareen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Jugged Hare official websitethejuggedhare.com