The Cross Kings pub on York Way is a huge improvement on its predecessor the Backpacker.  But it still manages to annoy some local residents with noise from its forecourt late at night.  People go outside to smoke and their mates follow them yakking away at some volume.  The pub is now applying to change its operating conditions to allow people to smoke outside after 11pm.  The Council licensing officer Simon Gallacher explains:

‘Essentially the current licence for the Cross Kings has a condition that prohibits customers gathering or loitering on the forecourt after 11pm (..condition 20..).  The licensees wish to remove this condition [by applying for a new licence] in order that their customers can go outside to smoke after 11pm. ‘

The Cross Kings is going to become incredibly busy when the Guardian building opens next door in the Spring – the Guardian is a 24 hour operation and journalists are known for their thirst.  So there will be a fair bit of smoking and noisy chatting and shouting in front of the pub.

It is always tricky to get the right balance but in a closely packed area such as Kings Cross where people live and work cheek by jowl residents should come first late at night.  The new licensing laws are designed to give residents a formal say in the process.  It is common to have rules closing beer gardens in residential areas after 2100 – as the noise of people drinking outside can be very intrusive – the same principle could be applied to the Cross Kings forecourt.

So if you are affected by this and want to stop it send an email to write to Simon Gallacher by clicking here and say that you object to the new licence application by the Cross Kings in respect of the removal of the former condition 20.  And that you don’t want late night noise nuisance that is likely to arise from people smoking outside late at night,up to 0400am.  Give your name and address.  You have until Monday 19th.