135 Bar and Lounge replaces The Carpenters Arms in Bethnal Green

135 Bar and Lounge has opened in place of The Carpenters Arms pub in Cambridge Heath Road.

The newly refurbished premises held an opening party on the weekend of January 31 and February 1.

Johan Svensson took over the Carpenters Arms at the end of 2022 before closing in August 2024 and rebranding it as a high-end cocktail bar.

He told this paper: “The idea was to create a lovely neighbourhood bar with a members club feel – bringing back some of the glamour that the old Carpenters pub used to have 20-odd years ago when everyone was suited and booted in here.

“It is a bit of a renaissance but obviously for a different generation and different clientele.

Johan described the refurb as 'a renaissance' of what was The Carpenters Arms (Image: 135 Bar and Lounge) “It has a glamorous members club feel with great drinks and great music.

“The focus is on the cocktail element with classic drinks and seasonal ingredients."

Johan bought The Carpenters Arms from Anthony Hawkes, who had owned the pub for more than 20 years.

“Even though it is a cocktail bar, I like to think that it carries on the spirit of the Carpenters that Anthony had," said Johan.

“Twenty-odd years ago The Carpenters was the place to be in the area with great live music and people dressing up.

“This is about adding a bit of glamour and quality and making everyone feel welcome – and that is what The Carpenters Arms was a long time ago."

Johan owns a luxury cocktail business (Image: 135 Bar and Lounge) Johan owns luxury cocktail business Drinks Fusion and has many years of catering experience behind him.

“We have tried to bring the Drinks Fusion touch to the new facelifted Carpenters through rebranding it 135," he said.

“We took out the old bar and installed a really bespoke, stainless steel cocktail bar and a gantry above it.

“It is all focused on quality of service, getting to know people and creating a positive vibe.

“We can really create a fantastic atmosphere – we have a really great combination of a fantastic venue, great service and a fabulous sound system and musicians."

Johan hopes to create a fantastic atmosphere at 135 (Image: 135 Bar and Lounge) According to Johan, 135 Bar and Lounge is waiting for an application to open until 2am to be signed off.

The bar will then open until 2am on weekends, between 11pm and midnight on weekdays and between 10pm and 11pm on Sundays.

With closing a traditional boozer, Johan admitted that criticism was inevitable.

“We’ve had some negative comments but on the whole, people have been really positive towards this," he said.

“At the end of the day, the East End has forever changed and evolved and what it once was can’t remain.

“Whether it’s me or someone else, things have to change.

“We’re not here to take business from other people – we’re here to make the area better.

“In the long run I’d like to turn this into a members club as I think that can be a really exciting thing to offer the community."