Gosnells Drinks takes over Peckham's Unicorn

Gosnells Drinks, the Peckham-based brewer of Honey Drinks, has acquired a second venue, taking over the John the Unicorn pub from the Portobello Pub Group.

John the Unicorn joins the Gosnells Bermondsey Bar as a second flagship site, with the business telling Pub & Bar there are more to come in 2026.

With future growth in mind, Gosnells has appointed Chris McGovern, formerly of The Number Group in Hackney Wick, as head of Gosnells retail to manage the expansion.

John the Unicorn will have its opening hours extended under the group, operating as a café and lunch spot during the day with coffee, pastries and locally sourced lunches.

"It’s part of the fabric of Rye Lane," says founder Tom Gosnell. "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."

All day trading

Evenings at the pub 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 a 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.

Under Gosnells ownership, existing staff will be retained and the venue’s name will not be changed. 

"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," adds managing director of the Portobello Pub Company Richard Stringer. "We have worked with Gosnells for several years and know that they will bring some fresh ideas and activities to JTU. 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."

John the Unicorn will relaunch with a celebration on 20 November. 

You may also be interested in…