East London’s former Wetherspoons to undergo major refurbishment to house electronic DJs

An East London pub is set to receive a major makeover after interest from several bidders trying to take it over. The popular former Spark House in Leyton has been bought by Remarkable Pubs Ltd as part of an expansion plan for the hospitality company.

The pub is set to undergo a renovation by its new owners, but they have said they will preserve its “unique charm and character”. They are also planning to rename the pub The European PH.

There were several bidders competing for the pub being sold by Fleurets, but Remarkable Pubs Ltd won. They have a reputation for restoring and reinventing their traditional, independently run London pubs, often drawing inspiration from the Victorian period. Remarkable Pubs owns 16 pubs across London, including The Barley Mow in Shoreditch, The Boleyn Tavern in East Ham, The George and Dragon in Acton, The Royal Inn on the Park in Hackney and many more.

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Located in the heart of Leyton and a former Wetherspoons, Spark House is known as “A home for contemporary electronic DJs” according to its Instagram. It boasts a rooftop terrace and wooden floors. Remarkable Pubs said it is excited to further build and enhance its offerings to the local community. They have a long-standing understanding that pubs are places to socialize, hubs for the local community and ultimately a haven for relaxation, enjoyment, company and fun.

“We are delighted to welcome the former Spark House to the Remarkable Pubs family,” said Robert Thomas of Remarkable Pubs Ltd. “We are passionate about creating memorable experiences for our guests and see huge potential in the former Spark House to become a destination of choice for locals and visitors alike.”

The pub has great reviews from when it was still Spark House, with a 4.3-star rating from 100 reviewers. One happy customer wrote: “Trendy new bar with late night music so a bit of a vibe. Large partly covered outdoor area for smokers and fresh air junkies. Outdoor terrace upstairs too. Food available. Has had a major refurbishment recently and has been open for about 7 weeks as of mid-June 22. Good parking nearby (large metered car park at the back). KFC drive-thru opposite. ATMs and shops nearby. Friendly and professional staff. Lots of buses and Walthamstow Central tube station 20 mins walk or 2 stops on various bus routes.”

Another reviewer said: “The service was very good and friendly. Very relaxing atmosphere. The board games are great.”

One said they couldn’t stay away: First time visiting as my friends were playing, but will definitely be back. Amazing pub with a super nice beer garden and little terrace. The food was also exceptional (especially the Korean cauliflower and beetroot koftas)”

A slightly less enthusiastic reviewer said: “Trendy hipster place, lunch menu a bit limited. Nice clean place with good drink selection. Friendly staff, but not much atmosphere at lunchtime. Card only, no cash.”

Andy Frisby, Director and Head of Central London Agency said: “We are really pleased that Remarkable Pubs has acquired this property to add to its heritage of character pubs in London. We understand that the pub will be refurbished with a focus on quality, friendly service and community engagement, whilst preserving its unique charm and character, and we expect the pub to trade well in the future. There were a number of bidders for this property and it is great to see the strength in demand for wet-lead suburban pubs.”

There is no official reopening date announced yet, nor any details about the specific work they will be required to do.

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