A Star is born by Hackney Downs
Stellar: the Star by Hackney Downs
A fresh bohemian vibe greeted revellers last night (25 April) at the newly-opened Star pub on Hackney Downs.
Brainchild of Rob Star, a music promoter who runs several venues elsewhere in East London including the well-known Star of Bethnal Green, the pub has taken over the former Three Sisters at the lower end of Queensdown Road.
Decorated with bespoke ‘Hackney Downs’ wallpaper, ballroom lights and a carousel horse on a pole, the triangular space is kitted out in striking black and white.
Though small, the venue includes an upstairs room with a light airy feel and great views over the Downs.
The idea for the pub was “to fit into the local community” explains launch organiser Samara Moss.
The clientele on the opening night was decidedly trendy, though long-time locals will also find much to like about the refurbed boozer.
The Star has a decent selection of wines, beers and spirits, and accompanied by pizza cooked in the upstairs kitchen, should prove popular.
For more go to The Star by Hackney Downs.
“The idea for the pub was “to fit into the local community” explains launch organiser Samara Moss.”
At £4.50 a pint, I think not!
Anyone who names a chain of pubs after themselves obviously has far too big an ego. Perhaps if he’d avoided the expensive Llewellyn-Bowen makeover, he could’ve charged Pembury Tavern prices for a pint. RIP The Three Sisters.
£4.50 a pint?No wonder the place was empty.I was told that the cafe in victoria park is charging £7.50 for a bacon sandwich.That will help the mums with their kids over there in the summer.Its R.I.P. hackney not just the sisters.
Yet another pub that appeals to those that have swum in on the wave of gentrification. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find somewhere to go in this area if you are over 30 and don’t have a huge income.
cunts
bespoke “hackney downs” wallpaper … f*ck off you tw*ts
When was this article posted?It states that the opening was friday evening,the first comment was at 6.34pm friday.Is that girl in the photo wearing a tiara?
@ Pat – the launch was on Thursday 25 April, not on the 26th as previously stated. The article has now been amended – Ed.
I have not been to the Star yet, but I am appalled by how unfairly hostile some people feel about it.
Comments posted here reflect this well.
Please take some perspective, it replaces a den where nobody went.
At least it was not converted into a Tesco express, betting shop or flats…
If this is not your type of place, keep avoiding the place as you did before, period.
At £4.50 a pint I cant afford it.
£22.50 for 3 drinks, fuck me I thought I was in the pub not over the road in the park getting mugged. Avoid this and ill see you in the Pembury
The Debbie Harry & Ferret! Is that the best that could be done with the outside of this building, grey matt and messy dark blue gloss. It looks half done and now has a tattoo palour mural.
Completely agree with Amadeus Proteus (above).
A lot of spiteful, bilious and pointless comments on here. As a local I’d much rather a pub that actually has people in it than a pub that’s cheap but empty.
All the folk bemoaning the price and decor didn’t seem to be using the place beforehand, so I really don’t understand why you’d want to shoot a business down before you’ve given it a chance.
I’ve been here a couple of times now. I really like the staff and most of what they’ve done with the look of the place (although could do with a few more bits and pieces on the walls as it feels a bit stark at the moment).
More comfortable seating would be nice for us over thirties and maybe a few more real ales but other than that, cracking job.
I intend to be whiling away a few summer’s nights here.
The previous Three Sisters was always empty and had a dreadful atmosphere. If people prefer everything like it was ‘in the good ol’days’ then they should have supported the previous owners.
At least someone has invested some time and effort into giving the pub a new lease of life, it’s nice to be finally be able to sit somewhere in near the park in the sun and have a beer!
It’s good to see a pub re-opened as a pub rather than a bookies or flats. The makeover is as much essential maintenance as refurb. The dumb waiter blocks the light to one side if the pub somewhat, maybe a necessary evil. Overall it’s decent.
Personally I will not visit as often as if the prices where a bit more ‘honest’. Clientele appears to be largely London Fields overspill or imported from other pubs in the Star stable rather than “local community”.
It will be intresting to see how they do in the cold drizzly winter months with a few pubs in the area vying for a similar demographic.
but the wallpaper’s amazing isn’t it – where does that come from?