The Black Eel, a Grade II-listed pub on Kingsland High Street in Dalston, has encountered opposition to its bid to extend its licensing hours. The premises, once the legendary pie and eel shop F Cooke, opened as The Black Eel in October 2025.
The food-led pub offers a range of games including darts, shuffleboard, table football, pétanque, and traditional board games. Amid “economic shocks” such as rising business rates, its managers seek to stay open until 1.30am on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays to remain competitive with other venues in the area. They claim this will also allow drinkers to leave more gradually.
Resident's Concerns
Despite agreeing to conditions like a cap on standing customers, the latest bid has drawn opposition from a local man worried about noise nuisance from crowds on the pavement. He submitted a picture of people outside a different bar, Tipsy, about five minutes away, to support his case.
At a Hackney Council licensing panel hearing on Tuesday (August 11), the man, claiming to represent other locals, criticized the lack of a plan to control customers and argued a later licence would have a domino effect on nearby premises. He previously objected to two licensing changes, including one where managers conceded no more than 50 people could stand with a drink.
Anonymous Objector
This time, he wished to remain anonymous, citing “dangerous” reprisals from the pub’s “radical” supporters. He clarified he did not live adjacent to The Black Eel but said drinkers outside were concerning for anyone walking down the high street or opening a window on a hot night.
Venue founder Andy Solley insisted the pub had no seating or queues at the front, saying, “We’re not a nightclub, we haven’t got a DJ. Patrons disperse gradually over a period of time.” The resident remained unsatisfied, saying, “The applicant just seems complacent to me.”
Decision Pending
The council’s licensing committee is expected to decide on the application within five working days of the hearing.
