The Hope, Smithfield

The Hope, located on Cowcross Street, sits at the edge of the historic Smithfield meat market. While the site itself traces its origins back to the late eighteenth century, the building you see today dates from around 1870. It was designed to cater to the specific rhythm of the market porters who worked through the night. For decades, the pub was famous for an early morning license that allowed it to serve food and drink starting at seven o'clock. This tradition existed to serve the market workers finishing their long shifts, for whom a pint at dawn was simply an after-work drink rather than a morning one. Though the pub has since moved to more conventional hours, the architecture remains a reminder of its past utility, featuring distinct Victorian-era tiles and etched glass that survived various refurbishments over the last century.