The Pembury Tavern: Britain's first Bitcoin bar

A pub in Hackney has become a UK-first with the acceptance of virtual currency Bitcoin.
The Pembury Tavern and it's sister establishments have become the first in the UK to accept the virtual currency, according to the Guardian.

Pub founder Stephen Early, a former computer scientist, created and installed a payment option for Bitcoins on his till server - and has already sold around £800 of alcohol via the Bitcoin phenomenon.

The system is quick and effective. The bar staff press two buttons on the till and the screen displays a QR code. The customer opens their digital Bitcoin wallet, takes a snap of the screen and confirms the payment. The staff press one more button and the transaction is complete. Snapping the QR code in a crowded bar could be a challenge but in a quiet pub it is faster than paying by card.

"It's more than I expected it to be," he says. "I really didn't expect that wave of enthusiasm and people coming in to try it out. There is a certain novelty value."

You can read the full report from the Guardian here.