One of East London’s favourite hidden bars is back, opening on 15th October — and it’s gone full Whisky. When word spread this summer that the decade-old favourite was closing, regulars mourned like they were losing a piece of East End nightlife history. But dry your eyes — the resurrection is here!
The bar’s revival is led by Allison Crawbuck and Rhys Everett, the visionary pair behind The Absinthe Parlour at The Last Tuesday Society and Devil’s Botany Distillery — the UK’s first absinthe distillery. Known for their gothic-meets-botanical sensibility, the duo are swapping green fairies for golden drams, reinventing the Hackney Road hideout as a whisky-driven speakeasy for the curious.
Tucked behind a working Mac repair shop on Hackney Road, The Natural Philosopher was never just another East London bar. It was a secret whispered over a pint, a dimly lit hideaway you stumbled upon by accident and never forgot.
Step through The MacSmith’s and you’ll find the familiar candlelit corners, eclectic furniture, and conspiratorial vibe. But this time, the shelves are lined with a constantly evolving collection of 24 whiskies — an ever-changing rotation of world drams, cult classics, and oddballs chosen for story and craft. No bottle sits for long: when one runs dry, another takes its place. The bar’s new concept is about discovery, not display — whiskies with character, not trophies for the mantelpiece.
“Expect all the fun of a late-night neighbourhood bar, but in a hidden and completely unexpected setting,”
Allison Crawbuck, co-owner
Every Wednesday night will be devoted to whisky: themed tastings, cocktail flights, and special menus celebrating the world’s best drams. But the bar’s playful side lives on — eight signature cocktails, sharp highballs, and proper picklebacks (a nod to the bar’s previous owner) keep the menu grounded in The Natural Philosopher’s cult identity.
Whether you’re a seasoned whisky drinker or a curious newcomer, this is the kind of place where you walk in for one drink and somehow stay all night.
The Natural Philosopher, 489 Hackney Road, London E2 9ED
Reopens Wednesday 15th October 2025
Hours: Wednesday & Thursday: 6–11PM
Friday: 6PM–1AM
Saturday: 4PM–1AM
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