JD Wetherspoon has submitted a licensing application for a new pub at 11 Strand, WC2N, directly adjacent to Charing Cross station in the heart of London’s West End. The site, previously used as a café and retail unit, is intended to be converted into a two-floor venue with space for approximately 320 guests. The proposed operating hours are 07:00–23:30 Monday–Thursday, 07:00–00:00 Friday–Saturday, and 07:00–22:30 Sunday, with entry and exit restricted to the Charing Cross forecourt, and no outdoor tables, seating, or consumption permitted. The WP Times reports the development, citing a local London news portal as the source of initial coverage.
The licensing documents submitted to Westminster City Council confirm that the pub is planned to follow a typical JD Wetherspoon operating model, including no live music or amplified entertainment, a condition already applied at other central venues run by the chain. The schedule outlines nightly door supervision, and an additional period of increased security staffing during the initial six weeks after opening. Smoking is proposed to be permitted only in a controlled space at the entrance, with no external seating.
Residents and local businesses have raised concerns during the consultation phase, citing existing late-night disturbance in the area, including shouting, drinking noise, street obstruction and litter. Several objections relate specifically to the location of the smoking zone, which could reduce pavement width for pedestrians entering or exiting the station. Opponents also request that closing time be set at no later than 23:00, reflecting previous complaints about congestion on side streets and reports of public urination and property damage near similar venues.
The planning history of the address shows that a prior attempt to secure pub conversion approval was refused by Westminster City Council in April 2024. The decision was later overturned on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate in June 2025, clearing the site for licensed use. The current application focuses solely on operating conditions, access, noise control and management plans, including a documented dispersal policy and match-day crowd strategy.
JD Wetherspoon notes in its application that other central London venues run under similar terms include The Montagu Pyke (Charing Cross Road) and The Moon Under Water (Leicester Square). The new Strand location, if licensed, will occupy both upper and lower ground floors and exclude off-sales of alcohol or takeaway drinks. The chain states that proximity to a major rail hub supports controlled customer dispersal, reducing post-closing congregation time in surrounding streets.
Westminster City Council is scheduled to review the licence submission at the next committee hearing. Final approval will depend on compliance with licensing policy, community representations and Metropolitan Police feedbac
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