The Cock Tavern was founded in 1900 - one year before the Hackney Empire in 1901. There has been a Tavern or coach house on the site for hundreds of years - The A5 which runs past is the old Roman Road - Watling Street leading up to North Wales...

The ancient route was gradually built up with inns and farm houses. However, despite the discovery of a medicinal well in 1714, and the creation of gardens and a fine room to exploit the water, Kilburn did not attract any significant building until around 1819 in the area near St John's Wood.

In the 19th century the wells declined, but the Kilburn Wells remained popular as a tea garden. The Bell was demolished and rebuilt in 1863, the building which stands there today.

The Cock Tavern today

New Variety Ltd was set up to take on the Lease of The Cock Tavern in September/November 2007. Cliff Roberson, Richard Gordon Claire and Roland Muldoon became the company directors and Laura Muldoon the General Manager, although Richard did much of the preparatory work he didn't remain with the company.

The idea was to create an environment that provide a variety of entertainment in a saloon bar atmosphere the sort of place that we would like to visit ourselves, a venue that could call on our various talents.

Claire and Roland Muldoon have a long history in theatre and are members of the celebrated underground theatre group CAST Cartoon Archetypical Slogan Theatre. In the early 80s, CAST set up New Variety and eventually toured then new wave of stand up comedians, poets,speciality act, singers and bands around eight London venues before taking on the crumbling Hackney Empire, In 2004 they left the restored and now world famous theatre.

Cliff Roberson and his wife Helga have been family friends with the Muldoons for along time. Cliff is a successful vintner and is widely respected in the Wine industry and remains at the head of Roberson Fine Wines which both imports and retails just that ; fine wine , some of which are on sale at the Cock.

Laura Muldoon has worked in the music industry and in recent years programmed the legendry(demolished) Samuel Pepys (The Peeps) in Mare St Hackney where she became the Pub Manager and reopened the Marie Lloyd Theatre Bar adjacent the Hackney Empire,Laura left the summer of 07 in order to join her parents in their new adventure.

Photograph by: Angus Forbes