After nearly 12 years of serving up some of East London's best cocktails (and one too many picklebacks), The Natural Philosopher — the little bar tucked behind a Mac repair shop on Hackney Road — is closing its doors for good this August.
Since opening, The Natural Philosopher has quietly built a renowned reputation, thanks to its quirky decor and a top-tier drinks list. But running an independent bar in 2025 is no small feat, and after more than a decade, the team have decided it's time to bow out.
But not quietly. To give this weird and wonderful bar the send-off it deserves, they're throwing a month-long goodbye, complete with industry nights every Sunday, guest bartender takeovers, and one final blowout on August 31, when the bar opens at 4pm and closes when it's ready.
If you've ever wanted to own a piece of East London bar history (a plant, a painting, or maybe a weird vintage spirit bottle), swing by on Tuesday, 20 August, for their bric-a-brac sale auction, where they'll be flogging off memorabilia, art, booze, and countless bar oddities.
The final service will be Saturday, 31 August, and after that, it's lights out.