The Dispensary was aquired in September 2006 by Annie Smith and David Cambridge and, since then, they have built its reputation as a destination dining pub for those who work in the City and those who visit from beyond. The landmark site in Leman Street, close to Aldgate East, was once the Eastern Dispensary Hospital, erected in 1859 to provide health care for the poorest Eastenders. In 2013-14, David and Annie embarked on an ambitious refurbishment project, commissioning the award-winning designer Jackie McWeeney to transform the period interiors of this grand Italianate building, with so many original features.