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Picture source: Stephen Harris
The Needle Gun was situated at 527 Roman Road, closing in 2009.
Source: Keith Emmerson
This pub was established as the Needle Gun by 1872 in a building which dates from 1828.  It was a market pub tied to the Taylor Walker Brewery pub and in the 1990s it was renamed The Trader.
Stephen Harris
Now converted to hotel use.
T C (August 2014)
My grandmother ran The Needle Gun for years, (Hazel Davis). I can remember going up there with my mum and 3 sisters to visit her fairly regularly, would have been about 1967/8/9?. Two bars with a central serving island. Thing I remember most was it was very dark and dingy, and smelt of stale beer (remember the Double Diamond taps!),and tobacco! Also a piano and frequent renditions of the usual pub songs. Can remember the layout of the flat upstairs to this very day! My grandmother died c1982, and went to her interring at the Jewish Cemetery in Brighton, can't remember if she ran the pub until she died, but it was quite possible. Went back a few years ago when it was The Trader, just as I was in the area and out of curiosity. The central island had been removed, but its outline was still clearly visible on the lino! A small servery had replaced it on the right hand side as you went in. Little old lady behind the bar who looked as old as the building itself! It was the archetypal East End pub back in the day, but was a sad shadow of its former self as The Trader. Got the impression it had become a refuge for "less fortunates" in its dying days. Didn't know it had been turned into a "hotel". Can't imagine there will be many tourists passing through! Especially given the photos of its current state! 5 stars for happy childhood memories, and the friendly reception we always got from the regulars. Probably had my first sip of beer there too!
Nigel Meek (December 2016)
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Name Dates Comments sandie Askew 1967/1970 Nigel Meek. This pub was my grandparents local. l must have visited as a child around the same time as you. I knew Hazel Davis. My Granddad died in 1971 and my Nan in 1979. Small world!
Other Photos
Date of photo: 2014	Picture source: Colin Price