Arguably the Island’s most famous pub due to its colourful past and connection with bohemian Soho writer and broadcaster Daniel Farson, The Waterman’s reopened its doors after a big refurbishment on 9 August 2020.

I’d been lucky enough to capture the works during transition and what was once a tired boozer scratching to make a living is now a slick modern pub ready to cater to all on the Isle and beyond.

A reopening, especially in the East End, is a good news story that warms my heart and something I love to champion. Going round a grand old boozer and witnessing the changes before it’s live and open is like a drug to me. The greatest high is taking photographs preserving that current state for posterity.

I last drank here on a few occasions in 2014 and although it wasn’t a grim experience the pub was tired and run down with very little buzz. You could tell it had fallen on hard times and likely struggled on for many years, just about scraping by. That was indeed the case and in its final years there was a hostel upstairs to make ends meet.

It’s had a number of different names (The Great Eastern and The Newcastle) and ambitious owners during its colourful past and I’m confident saying its now in safe hands to be a roaring success, back under its original name.

The fit out is very much open, fresh and contemporary. What so many new pubs seem to do now is go for a uniform grey across the board but not so here and a kaleidoscope of colours flows through the pub projecting a warm and inviting feel. Although the interior footprint remains the same it feels more spacious and high stools are aplenty to sit at and enjoy a few cold ones.

The upper bar area is now bright and punchy and the lower deck opened out with a raised area which will become a de facto snug complimented by its interior foliage feature.

The new garden is night and day compared to its predecessor and a fine spot to enjoy the last of the summer.

Upstairs has seven boutique hotel bedrooms and owners Laura & Sam are keen to welcome a cross section of the community and guests from far and wide to enjoy the pubs fine food and beverage. I haven’t eaten here yet but Chef Sam’s previous kitchens include the Bull & Last, Highgate and also Cadogan Arms, Chelsea and I’m expecting big things when I return. Laura’s Dad also ran the Ship before her and the closed City Arms further up towards Canary Wharf so the pub is in fine Island hands to continue the traditions of the past.

The southern tip of the Island has an excellent diversity of pubs now with two old school community minded boozers, local favourite (and Waterman’s sister pub) the Ship and now this excellent more modern offering that will comfortably wear many different hospitality hats.

Although Dan Farson’s celebrity guests of yesteryear, that included Clint Eastwood, Judy Garland and Groucho Marx might no longer be regular customers, The Waterman’s is ready to embrace the next chapter of Island pub history.