Gastro pub gurus Ed and Tom Martin have spent more than a decade building a formidable dining portfolio.
They recently picked up The Good Pub Guide's County Dining Pub Of The Year for The Gun and revealed what made the Coldharbour establishment so special.
Tom said: "The Gun has such a significant history - Nelson used to come here and there were secret tunnels where the contraband used to be brought in.
"It is Grade II listed and many original features remain. The bar is largely intact and the wooden panelling is original. It's a great location on the river and such a lovely environment. It's a haven from Canary Wharf.
"However before we bought it, it had a stage and used to have strippers on Sundays."
The brothers teamed up in 2000 wanting to be part of a changing pub scene. With a shared love of traditional British pubs and a passion for food, they set out to create somewhere they would want to visit.
Tom said: "We used to go to country pubs at the weekend and loved the whole British pub thing. You don't see it anywhere else in the world.
"Our business boomed from the first day because we got the concept absolutely right - things like not having to book or dress up make a difference.
"We have always had consistently good food and have had the same chef at The Gun for three years which has held the team together."
They expanded rapidly and now have eight pubs in London, each with its own character.
The development work is part of a larger project by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to improve access to some of London’s key attractions, particularly for those who have special accessibility needs.
The £220m Great Outdoors programme aims to improve over 50 of the capital’s public spaces in time for the Olympic Games next year. The measures include redesigned streets, which can be shared by both pedestrians and vehicles, reclaimed derelict green spaces and underused waterways.
Conducted in conjunction with local councils, businesses and residents’ groups, the development work aims to promote use of London’s attractions as well as its restaurants, cafes, bars and shops.
Olympics legacy
"London is such an extraordinary place to visit with something different around every corner and the South Bank is no exception. Every year millions explore its many attractions stretching from Jubilee Gardens along to Borough market and beyond,” said Boris Johnson.
“Historically and by the nature of the way this swathe of riverside has developed over the centuries it has never been the easiest area to navigate for visitors, especially those with accessibility needs.
“By making some simple but crucial changes to its streets and wider public realm we will make it considerably more accessible in time for the London Games. What better legacy than to use this opportunity to open up this fantastic area for anyone and everyone to enjoy."