Peckham Local, Gosnells Drinks, to Take Over Historic Venue, John the Unicorn
- Guild Secretary
- 14 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Gosnells Drinks, the Peckham-based brewers of Honey Drinks, has acquired a second venue, taking over John the Unicorn (JTU) from the Portobello Pub Group.
Under Gosnells ownership, existing JTU staff will be retained, and the venue’s name will not be changed. According to founder Tom Gosnell, “it’s part of the fabric of Rye Lane. We love how the unicorn — something mythical, unique and just a bit unordinary — fits perfectly with Gosnells’ left-of-centre view of the world. We want to lean into what makes John the Unicorn iconic, while weaving in the Gosnells DNA — moments of unexpected delight, a bit of playfulness, and that feeling that you’ve stumbled into somewhere rare and prized."
Managing Director of the Portobello Pub Company, Richard Stringer comments: “We have loved our time with John the Unicorn, but it is exciting to see it gain a new lease of life with a truly locally rooted business. We have worked with Gosnells for several years and know that they will bring some fresh ideas and activities to JTU, and of course, their wonderful Honey Nectars! We remain focused on our own extensive refurbishment programme, which continues over the next few weeks at No 32 in Clapham and Westow House in Crystal Palace.”
Evenings will see the return of the pizza menu alongside Gosnells’ range of Honey Nectars, cocktails, wine, beer and low-ABV serves all on the bar. The team is developing an exciting programme of events and activities to encourage people to do something a bit out of the ordinary — from live music to local collaborations and more.
Gosnells Sales & Marketing Director, Cameron McKenzie-Wilde comments: “We’re proud of how Gosnells has grown alongside changes and trends in consumer behaviour towards a more balanced lifestyle, especially considering the overall challenges in the drinks and hospitality industries. John the Unicorn gives us the Peckham home we have been looking for and enables us to reach more consumers and grow our community even further. We’re looking forward to the next few months as we grow John the Unicorn into a destination venue for drinks, food, and experiences in South London.”
Gosnells has appointed Chris McGovern, formerly of The Number Group in Hackney Wick, as Head of Gosnells Retail, to manage the expansion. The plan is to extend the opening hours, operating as a café and lunch spot during the day with coffee, pastries, and locally sourced lunches, alongside fast Wi-Fi for the WFH crowd.
Since 2014, Gosnells has been brewing Honey Nectars – sociable-ABV sparkling drinks inspired by the craft beer and mead categories – in Peckham. Gosnells continues to grow its presence in South London, and its range of 100% natural, gluten free and sustainably produced drinks are now served in cans and on draught in many venues locally. John the Unicorn joins the Gosnells Bermondsey Bar as a second flagship site — with more to come in 2026.
Tom Gosnell adds: “As both a brand and business, we strongly believe in ‘by Peckham, for Peckham’ so there’s an extra layer of pride that we’re taking over such a storied space in our own backyard. And that we get to share it with the community who’s supported us from the start.”
John the Unicorn will relaunch with a celebration on 20 November.
ENDS
Pictures available to download here
Gosnells Bar, 72 Enid Street, London, United Kingdom SE163RA
John the Unicorn, 157-159 Rye Ln, London SE15 4TL
For more information: eilidh@randr.co.uk
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