Neighbours fight over Shoreditch Boxpark's bid for more outdoor drinking

Shoreditch party-goers enjoy the sun at Boxpark
Alamy

Hipster hangout Boxpark has been branded “boozepark” by neighbours objecting to the Shoreditch shipping-container mall’s plans for more outdoor drinking.

Families say Boxpark has changed from a high-end fashion and street-food destination, in an area once a haven for artists, into a “nightly, out-of-control street festival”.

Now Boxpark wants a licence to allow alcohol to be sold from an unspecified number of bars in four decked areas on the first floor from noon to 11pm every day except Sunday, when they would close at 8.30pm.

The Met, local residents’ groups and more than 20 neighbours have objected to the plan which residents fear will “ruin their lives”.

Boxpark, the brainchild of Roger Wade, opened in 2011 and has set up a second venue in Croydon. It plans to expand into other towns and cities.

The Shoreditch Boxpark wants to allow drinking from noon to 11pm every day except Sunday

One local resident said: “What is sad is that Boxpark, with its original intention as a ‘high-end retail park’, could have been an asset to Shoreditch and its community.

"But instead it has swiftly plummeted downmarket to become a huge, noisy beer tent that bombards the surrounding neighbourhood with very loud music.”

The Jago Action Group of local residents and businesses has also objected, saying: “Boxpark — now often known locally as boozepark — originally received planning permission only on the basis of an explicit assurance there would be no licensed premises in the development. Yet it has increasingly become a complex of linked drinking venues.”

Boxpark said they are applying for a common licence for the landlord and that they have worked very closely with police over the application.

Mr Wade added: “Boxpark has also consulted extensively with police and local community groups.

"We have incorporated the majority of their comments in our new licence. Unfortunately a no-noise clause is not workable.”

The application is due to go before Hackney’s licensing committee next Tuesday.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in