Comments on: Last Orders At The Gun

By: Doug. Andrews

Doug. Andrews — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 21:11:02 +0000

When I was demobbed from the Royal Navy after National Service in February 1953, I worked for Westminster Bank Ltd at 65 Brushfield Street. I remember very well, the publican who ran The Gun – he was one of our customers. His name was Bill Silverton. I can also recall several of our customers – there was W.H.Press, whose offices were in The London Fruit Exchange, as was that of Messrs. Cocozza Wood. One of the major stallholders was Messrs. Bruce & Ewart. There was a good relationship between the market porters and the attractive lady members of the Bank’s staff with their good-natured banter. Our Chief Clerk Mr. Young was a member of The Market Club, and on Christmas Eve he took it upon himself to take every staff member to the bar upstairs and buy them a drink, but there was a limit in that I think he could only take one guest at a time. He went home quite happy! I enjoyed my stay in the market and remember it well. Doug. Andrews.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Sun, 18 May 2025 23:43:43 +0000

My mother, Carol, worked here sometime late 70’s ish. £
Opened for market traders at 6am, stayed late for masons at night
Not sure who was landlord then, wondered if anyone remembers her, pretty long blonde hair?0

By: Marina

Marina — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:06:51 +0000

I remember working as a waitress for David approximately 40 years ago
I worked at the gun on Sundays at lunch times and also served at the Masonic dinners upstairs – I remember thinking it all very odd having to wait outside the room for the knocks to enter !-( I was very young and unfamiliar with the masons)
I also worked for David’s business that cooked and served lunches at a Large Bank nearby – and how the massive conference dinning table collapsed at the first lunch – disaster ! Luckily he kept the contract .
A great shame to see the old building gone

By: Melanie Jolly

Melanie Jolly — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 22:54:31 +0000

I used to come to this pub regularly in the mid 80s when I lived in the Fidelis house hostel in Gun Street (this has also gone and is now flats) it was good because it was local and us girls had a 10 o’clock curfew. It didn’t take too long to get home. I think the landlord at the time was called Alan and they used to have meetings for the masons upstairs. I have many happy memories of this place

By: Andrew Lewis

Andrew Lewis — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 15:22:28 +0000

I was telling a friend of mine the other day about The Gun and, more particularly, about the Grenadier Restaurant. I worked in the City for most of my working life, retiring some dozen or so years ago. I was a regular, but infrequent, visitor to the Grenadier having been introduced to its delights by a colleague. For a ‘treat’ I used to take valued clients there for the experience. I remember the panelled walls and the Delft tiles. If I remember correctly there was a small bar there as well. In my mind, particularly, were two ‘older’ but delightful serving ladies providing a near silver service with crisp tablecloths on the tables.

The real treat was the steak and kidney pudding. It filled the plate. And as I was told it was ‘a favourite of many city gents as their wives wouldn’t cook it for them at home’ – for obvious reasons.

But all the food was always excellent. I seem to remember that for a time the chef was ex. of the Savoy.

I looked up The Gun on-line only to read that it no longer existed and had been demolished along with so many of my cherished memories. Instead I found this chat page so have added in my reminiscences.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 21:01:24 +0000

Tracey, it took a very long time but he did.

Essex House, not The Gun, let’s hope in these current challenges he can keep it going

By: Tracey Egan

Tracey Egan — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 09:41:51 +0000

I used to work for David Pollack in the bell in 1991. I wonder if Marc Pollack got his own pub?

By: Chaim Ebanks

Chaim Ebanks — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 21:34:20 +0000

Going back to the early 1970’s I worked in the fruit market on the R. Tealing stand in Spitalfield market. Used to be in the bar sometimes at 4am. Seemed wrong, but was so right!!! So sad that this icon of an “early morning drinking” has been demolished.

Fred Moseley was the manager of the business I worked for, but the overall operation was owned by Mr Terry Peachey. Best boss I ever had.

By: Martin

Martin — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 07:58:45 +0000

Took a stroll round Spitalfields for the first time in years yesterday and was confused as I couldn’t see the Gun. Came back to work and googled it to find this website and that it had gone in 2015. Although not a regular I used to play 5 a side football in Spitalfields Market (every Weds lunchtime) around 15 years ago until they redeveloped that and turned it into restaurants and shops. After playing we would sometimes pop into the Gun for a swift half as they say before having to return to the City to work! I’m a South East London lad born in Tooley Street and that area too is unrecognisable now. Sad times.

By: Goose

Goose — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 22:40:50 +0000

Was gutted to see this had gone when I visited the area. My mates were students , at London Polly. I recall having a beer at some odd hour in the morning. Great food from a place called Gunpowder near by. This a cool site.