A well-known pub adjacent to London's Trafalgar Square has successfully navigated a formal licensing review, agreeing to a series of operational changes to address neighbours' concerns about noise and anti-social behaviour.
Resident Complaints Prompt Council Review
The Walkers of Whitehall pub was brought before Westminster City Council's licensing committee in November 2025 following submissions from local residents. The complaints centred on patrons causing a nuisance by congregating outside, with allegations of excessive noise, public urination, and drinkers spilling onto pavements not belonging to the establishment.
Residents had called for severe restrictions, including limiting outdoor drinkers to just 12 people before 9pm and allowing only four people outside for smoking after that time. They also demanded measures to tackle litter and a ban on overnight waste collections.
Council's Verdict and New Licence Conditions
The council's committee, which issued its final decision on 27 November 2025, rejected a complete ban on the pub's use of its outside area, deeming it "inappropriate". However, it imposed several new binding conditions on the pub's operating licence.
The key new rules are:
- After 9pm, no customers are permitted outside except for those temporarily leaving to smoke or make a phone call.
- The number of people allowed outside temporarily is capped at 10 on Thursdays and 5 at all other times. They cannot take drinks with them.
- At all other times, any customers drinking or smoking outside must be "in an orderly manner and are properly supervised" by staff.
- The pub must conduct regular litter patrols and is prohibited from having waste collected or deliveries made between 11pm and 8am.
- One dedicated security staff member must be on duty outside the premises on Thursdays after 4pm.
The council stated it had "sympathy" for residents but noted it had received no formal complaints from the Metropolitan Police or its own environmental health team regarding the pub. It praised the pub's owners, Young's, for proposing new measures but warned this was the "last chance" for the premises to manage the external area effectively.
Pub's Response and Historical Context
In its defence during the review, the pub's management argued that many photographic evidences provided by residents were undated, predated new management, or depicted individuals who were not their customers. The premises licence holder stated that measures to keep customers on the correct pavement and away from the road had been in place "for some time".
Young's had proactively offered to stop patrons gathering outside after 9:30pm, save for a maximum of 10 smokers at a time, and pledged to ensure better supervision of the area. The council's formal conditions largely reflect and enforce these promises.
The decision document was not publicly released until January 2026, a delay believed to be connected to a recent cyber attack on Westminster City Council's systems.
