The Cock in Smithfield Struts onto the Market
August 5, 2014
The Cock Tavern, located beneath the Poultry Hall of London Central Market, commonly known as Smithfield Market, is being offered on new lease terms after the City of London Corporation appointed Davis Coffer Lyons the leisure specialists to find a new tenant to take over the basement public house and bar.
This iconic basement hostelry was originally built to serve breakfast and beer to the areas many market workers as they finished their shifts. In later years, the reputation of the breakfasts spread attracting hungry suited clients as well as a handful of curious celebrities.
The premises provides around4,220 sq ft of space over basement and sub-basement levels and benefits from a 6:00am-2:00am licence for sale of alcohol Tuesday-Friday and 8:00am-2:00am Saturday- Sunday and 6:00am-11:00pm Monday.
Smithfield Market was opened in 1868 with the Poultry Hall being rebuilt in 1958 after a devastating fire; the clear spanning dome was at the time, the largest in Europe. The market and surrounding areas have been transformed over recent years and are now home to many major corporations, finance houses and institutions located in the 100,000sqft of office space spread across the three listed market buildings and further afield. It is also home to a host of exciting restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes supporting a buoyant all-day and late night leisure scene. Further improvements are being implemented, spearheaded by the Crossrail development of Farringdon Station, which will see it become the busiest on the network when it opens in 2018.
The area around the Grade II listed Smithfield Market building is also home to a number of attractions including Martyrs Memorial, The Wallace Memorial to Braveheart who was executed nearby in 1305 The Museum of London and Charterhouse a former Carthusian Monastery established in 1371. Adjacent is the renowned St. Bartholomews hospital which has just unveiled plans to host a worldwide centre of excellence for treatment of heart disease.
Chris Bickle Associate Director at Davis Coffer Lyons, said: The EC1 and Smithfield Market area is currently one of the Capitals most vibrant and active locations, from a commercial and licensed leisure perspective. We have completed a host of prominent deals over recent months. The Cock Tavern is already generating interest as it meets the criteria for many operators in the pub, bar, restaurant and general leisure sectors in particular, being nil premium, free of tie, with a good layout and late licence.
