In this case however, it’s not outward but upward!!!  The Driver, the former pub at 2-4 Wharfdale Road, and soon to be something more, has filed an application to extend it hours.  But in this case, not for longer hours, but to simply extend their exisitng hours so they also apply to their new floors.

They currently have a License that allows the following:

They now wish to extend this license to the upper floors which will be used for the following purposes.

For those who are not familiar with him, the owner of The Driver is Billy Reilly.  Mr. Reilly owns a number of establishments in London which previously included all the clubs in the Goods Way Yards.  For some of us, the point we got to know him was when he cancelled the contract for The Church, the event that saw hundreds of drunks invading King’s Cross for a Sunday drink-a-thon.  I have attached a recent letter that I received from Billy to again assure local residents of his intentions at The Driver- Download Open_letter_to_residents_5_aug_08.pdf

I would add that prior to his requesting permission for the Change of Use for the upper floors at The Driver, he called for a meeting with local residents and explained his plans and took questions.  I believe his application received no objections.

Lastly I would mention that the outside of The "new" Driver will be covered by a Greenwall similiar to that which is being developed by our own Sophie Talbot and friends of Wharfdale Road.  The Driver has now contributed £2000 to Sophie’s Community fund for her Greewall.

Should you wish to commet on this on his application, you can email the Licensing team at licensing@islington.gov.uk prior to 15th August 2008.  Please be sure to include you address and refer to the Application No. Prem/3927.  However as he has always been responsive to local folk, you might simply want to drop by The Driver and speak to him directly…that’s what I have always done.