The Lord Napier Star, Hackney Wick's only pub, is under threat from a proposed multi-storey housing development that would overlook its outdoor space, potentially leading to noise complaints and the loss of its late licence. Publican Rob Star has called on Tower Hamlets Council to reject the planning application submitted by White Post Lane Development for eight flats and a commercial unit.
Pub's outdoor space at risk from new balconies
Rob Star, who runs the Electric Star Pubs group, said the development's balconies would look directly into the pub's garden and roof terrace, which are currently private. He fears residents could complain about noise from music, people coming and going, or smoking, triggering a review of the pub's licence that allows it to stay open until 1.30am on weekends.
"Residents could complain about music playing, people coming and going, or smoking - a whole host of things," Star told MyLondon. "At the moment our garden and roof terrace are very private but now our outdoor areas, where people can enjoy themselves, would be looked into from several balconies."
The pub has already faced disruption from construction on White Post Lane, which has been closed for over a year, affecting access and footfall. Star said the new development would take nine months to a year to build, adding to the challenges.
Licence review could end the pub
Star's biggest fear is a licence review, which could impose sanctions or revoke the licence entirely. He previously fought a long, costly battle over a noise issue at his King's Cross venue, noting that "it really only takes one complaint to get the council involved."
"If the review is upheld, various sanctions can be imposed and our licence could be taken," he said. "That would 100% be the end of the pub because we work on very fine margins. Every weekend, bank holiday, Christmas, really affects our turnover and if we can't make a profit, we don't have a business."
A licence review could also restrict outdoor access times or smoking areas, which Star says can "make or break" a pub amid the hospitality industry's recent struggles.
Hackney Wick's transformation and community response
Star, a veteran of the East London music scene, has watched Hackney Wick transform from a "scrapyard" with a creative community to a regeneration hotspot since the 2012 Olympics. He worries the level of housing development is becoming "excessive" and could price out the very community that makes the area attractive.
"Countless flats have been going up and it seems like every month there's a new wave of construction," he said. "In some ways that's good for us as a business because you bring more people into the area. But that change also has to be managed in order to retain the reason that people want to live here, which is the bars, the clubs, the restaurants."
Star has launched a social media campaign urging locals and pubgoers to contact Tower Hamlets Council. Save Our Scene, a group advocating for UK music venues, is reportedly working on a petition. "I think it's important to show people that we don't have to just accept these things and we can fight back against them," he said. "If we don't look after this industry, whether that's how much tax they have to pay, or planning regulations, we will lose them."
The planning application is currently under review, with no final decision made.
