At that time the locality was entirely rural and the proprietors relied on trade passing by on the road from London to Hampstead and Highgate.

[2] In the late 18th century the Mother Red Cap was at its present location, and it had acquired a tea garden.

The pub and venue in its present large guise is the work of Andrew Marler, a serial developer of Licensed Premises, who owned it as a 200 capacity pub and in 1988 bought the whole 'island site' on which it stands.

Marler went on in 1994 to buy the BBC Television Theatre from the BBC and refurbish and launch the site as The Shepherd's Bush Empire, continuing with the business model of selling drinks to customers whilst being professionally entertained.

The World's End and its Underworld Club have won Venue of the Year and hosted bands/artists like Dave Stewart, The Cranberries, Stuck Mojo, The Datsuns, The Darkness and Radiohead, as well as a host of extreme metal bands.