The Sekforde, a pub that has been open in Islington since 1829, is facing the potentially damaging prospect of having to reduce the number of punters who can drink outside the venue.
The pub currently has its licence under review due to noise complaints from residents who live on Sekforde Street.
Islington Council stated that the review has come about as the ‘license holder has not ensured the prevention of public nuisance’. The new proposals would halve the outdoor seating and prevent customers from standing and drinking outside the pub.
However, the pub believes that these changes would be damaging and potentially lead to the pub’s closure.
Harry Smith, the current landowner of the Sekforde said that the changes wouldn’t be sustainable, especially as it is ‘very important to be able to host people outside’ during the summer.
Silent few against a majority
David Lonsdale, the pub’s owner, argued that only a few residents complained about the noise and they’ve never communicated these concerns directly with the pub.
Speaking about the complainants, Lonsdale told City News,
I don’t want them to not have an opinion, but in my opinion, they are being very selfish and unreasonable. Ultimately you’re spoiling something that is very important for the majority of people.
Michael Kill, the CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, believes that this issue is due to a ‘fundamental flaw in the licensing system’ that is leaving hospitality businesses ‘extremely vulnerable’.
We have seen this up and down the country. Even one complaint positioned in the right way to a local authority can lead to a breach of noise complaints and public nuisance.
Michael Kill
He went on to tell City News that there currently isn’t ‘due regard for the balance between businesses and residential spaces’
City News reached out to residents of Sekforde Street to speak to anyone who shared the views of the complainants, but received no response.
Public Campaign
Poster the Sekforde have placed outside the pub, urging residents to email the councill
To ensure the survival of the pub, the Sekforde have launched a public campaign urging locals to email Islington council by the 17th of December.
This was an approach used by another Islington pub, the Colston Arms, which faced the same situation back in 2022. The pub went on to survive, due to campaigning from local residents.
That’s a success story, but it’s a very rare one. Most of the time the licencing conditions that are suggested by licencing authorities will be the ones that they go with.
Harry Smith
However, Sekforde landlord Harry Smith told City News that while the Colston Arms is ‘our example and we’re basing our model off them’, he is doubtful that the same outcome can be achieved.
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HeadlinePub faces last call due to ‘selfish residents’
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StandfirstThe Sekforde in Islington license under review due to noise complaints from local residents
The Sekforde, a pub that has been open in Islington since 1829, is facing the potentially damaging prospect of having to reduce the number of punters who can drink outside the venue.
The pub currently has its licence under review due to noise complaints from residents who live on Sekforde Street.
Islington Council stated that the review has come about as the ‘license holder has not ensured the prevention of public nuisance’. The new proposals would halve the outdoor seating and prevent customers from standing and drinking outside the pub.
However, the pub believes that these changes would be damaging and potentially lead to the pub’s closure.
Harry Smith, the current landowner of the Sekforde said that the changes wouldn’t be sustainable, especially as it is ‘very important to be able to host people outside’ during the summer.
Silent few against a majority
David Lonsdale, the pub’s owner, argued that only a few residents complained about the noise and they’ve never communicated these concerns directly with the pub.
Speaking about the complainants, Lonsdale told City News,
I don’t want them to not have an opinion, but in my opinion, they are being very selfish and unreasonable. Ultimately you’re spoiling something that is very important for the majority of people.
Michael Kill, the CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, believes that this issue is due to a ‘fundamental flaw in the licensing system’ that is leaving hospitality businesses ‘extremely vulnerable’.
We have seen this up and down the country. Even one complaint positioned in the right way to a local authority can lead to a breach of noise complaints and public nuisance.
Michael Kill
He went on to tell City News that there currently isn’t ‘due regard for the balance between businesses and residential spaces’
City News reached out to residents of Sekforde Street to speak to anyone who shared the views of the complainants, but received no response.
Public Campaign
Poster the Sekforde have placed outside the pub, urging residents to email the councill
To ensure the survival of the pub, the Sekforde have launched a public campaign urging locals to email Islington council by the 17th of December.
This was an approach used by another Islington pub, the Colston Arms, which faced the same situation back in 2022. The pub went on to survive, due to campaigning from local residents.
That’s a success story, but it’s a very rare one. Most of the time the licencing conditions that are suggested by licencing authorities will be the ones that they go with.
Harry Smith
However, Sekforde landlord Harry Smith told City News that while the Colston Arms is ‘our example and we’re basing our model off them’, he is doubtful that the same outcome can be achieved.
