The JD Wetherspoon chain has formally applied to open a major new pub with a capacity for 320 people directly beside Charing Cross railway and London Underground station in central London. The application, now before Westminster City Council, outlines plans to convert a former retail unit and café at 11 Strand into a traditional two-floor establishment.
Operating Hours and Resident Concerns
According to the licensing submission, the proposed pub would operate from 7am until 11.30pm Monday to Thursday, until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and close at 10.30pm on Sundays. The chain has committed to providing door supervisors every night, with security present before 6pm for the initial six weeks after opening.
However, the plans have drawn objections from local residents who argue the area around Charing Cross station forecourt already suffers from significant crime and anti-social behaviour. They have called for door staff to be on duty whenever the venue is open and have expressed strong concerns about a proposed smoking area facing the station entrance.
One objector stated that the smoking area would effectively halve the width of access for pedestrians heading to the station, forcing them onto the road. They also argued it was inappropriate for arriving travellers to be immediately met by the sight and smell of smokers.
History of the Application and Dispersal Plans
This is not the first hurdle for the pub giant at this location. Westminster City Council refused a similar application in April 2024, citing that the type and size of the venue was "inappropriate to its location" and would add to an over-concentration of drinking establishments, to the detriment of Craven Street residents. The council's report referenced existing problems like drunken shouting, property damage, and public urination linked to other premises.
Wetherspoon's successfully appealed that decision, with the Planning Inspectorate ruling in June 2025 that there were no "material considerations" to prevent the site being used as a pub. The new licensing application includes several management plans developed after consultation with the council, police, and residents.
These include a Dispersal Policy and specific plans for event and football match days. The chain argues that the venue's proximity to a major transport hub will aid customer dispersal at closing times. A written statement confirms the pub will follow the standard Wetherspoon model of no music or entertainment, and crucially, no consumption of food or drink outdoors.
Key Conditions and Next Steps
The operating schedule promises a strictly controlled environment. Entry and exit will be solely via the Charing Cross forecourt, and there will be no off-sales of alcohol or food. The chain points to the successful operation of other central London pubs under similar conditions, such as The Montagu Pyke on Charing Cross Road and The Moon Under Water on Leicester Square.
Westminster City Council's licensing committee is set to review the application on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Their decision will determine whether the 320-capacity pub, promising early morning openings and a ban on outdoor drinking, can proceed amidst ongoing local concerns about night-time disturbance in the area.
