In mid 2013 the pub was at risk of closure after Hackney police claimed 92 reports of thefts between June 2012 and June 2013.[3] An online petition was created to save the venue, which as of 16 September 2013 had received 2678 signatures[4] and a social media campaign on Twitter using the hashtag #SaveTheDolphin attracted support from presenter Caroline Flack and even telecoms company O2.[5] Actor Michael Fassbender also gave his support to the petition sharing that John Maclean's short film Pitch Black Heist, in which he starred, had scenes filmed at the pub.[6]
In September 2013, Hackney Council stripped the pub of its 4 am late licence after local police applied for a review citing 160 crimes were reported at the venue between 2010 and 2013, including a firearm incident and rising thefts.[7] However a year later in September 2014, the pub regained its 4 am weekend licence following a decision at Stratford magistrates court, with Hackney Council's chair of licensing councillor Emma Plouviez saying: "Managers at The Dolphin have made efforts to tackle the disproportionately high levels of theft at the pub."[8]
In 2021, the venue's licence was suspended after the police raised concerns about their response to a serious assault on Friday, October 15th where a man was hit with a glass and subsequently required hospital treatment.[9] After several years of closure, the pub reopened in June 2023 with reduced opening hours, closing at 12:30 am on weekends instead of 4 am.[10]
