As a developer proposes building new flats right next door to his historic pub, The Lord Napier Star’s landlord (and a local resident himself), Rob Star, has taken to the socials to raise the alarm.

He knows that having people suddenly living right up against the Napier’s popular back garden and rooftop terrace would pose a direct threat to the future of the pub.

So he’s calling on all those who love and appreciate having such a lively boozer, complete with regular DJs, events and fully-licenced outdoor merriment, to email Tower Hamlets (details in the Insta post) to object right now, before it’s too late.

Rob was among a collection of venue owners, licensing advisors, councillors and cultural leaders that we brought together at last month’s Wick Wednesday CIG meeting, as part of The Wick’s ongoing Nightlife Campaign.

With hundreds of new flats about to go on the market around the established nightlife venues of Queen’s Yard, Main Yard and Fish Island, our mission is to make sure that incoming residents don’t force the culture into retreat.

There’s a unique opportunity right here to stress-test the pro-nightlife intentions that the Mayor of London and the new Number 10 lot have been so proudly touting. From building designs that must include proper soundproofing measures to tenancy agreements that are clear about the existing late night culture and serve to restrict noise complaints, this is a crucial time for ensuring everyone can live harmoniously in a bustling late night hub, if this is indeed a truly 24-hour city.

The Napier’s proactive early response is a wise move, regardless. As Rob says in the video, if he proposed opening a brand new outdoor music spot right beside existing homes he’d be given short shrift by the licensing authorities, so why should flats be granted permission to be built next to door to his longstanding pub?

The pub has a long history dating back to 1868. The main photo above documents how it looked back in 1977, (read all about it in The Wick Book, if you’ve not already got a copy 😉) including over two decades boarded up, when it operated as a home to infamous raves, until Rob brought it back as a licensed pub in 2021.

The plans for the proposed flats will be presented at today’s CIG meeting (details below), which could result in some very interesting debate - we hope to see you there from 4pm, with cheese sampling and a social drink afterwards.

We still have 30-minutes of free riding credit on Lime bikes for anyone leaving a comment over in the new Wick Community. This week, why not join the debate about the proposed flats next to the Napier, and we’ll message you with your discount code 👍🏼

🤝This Sun 4th Oct is Community Day at Eastway Baths, aimed at bringing Wick residents together for a wholesome day including lunch in the garden from 2pm by Soulful Kitchen, ivy weaving for kids, plus yoga and tai chi in the Sunroom. Local DJs play the Hall all afternoon, alongside a community exhibition about the building. There will also be stalls by Connecting All Communities doing henna, Damali Beautiful Vision, a sound bath with Giulia from Xenia, and a bubble workshop by Bubbles Not Bombs. The Luna Lodge sauna is free from 3pm to 5pm with our half hour sessions, 22 people each, first come first served.

🪕There’s a rare opportunity to discover the distinctive sound of the Sasando, a traditional string instrument from Indonesia, at SARASANDO: From Feeling to Sound, taking place on Sat 3rd Oct at Green Place Studios. Performed live by Indonesian musician and artist Inaleah, the event brings together live music, Indonesian food and traditional games.

💃 DEEPFAKE, the new dance work from Jess & Morgs at Sadler’s Wells East, runs from Thurs 1st - Sat 3rd Oct, following a politician and political journalist whose TV interview starts to unravel, with dance, film and digital technology blurring the line between what’s real and what isn’t.

🥛 Catch some free live dance at V&A East Storehouse on Sat 3rd Oct, as Sansetsukon respond to Es Devlin’s installation The Everythingists with MILK. Through dance, sound, light and shadow, the dance collective will explore ideas of old and new art, technology and transformation in a new live performance.

🎬 The Cocoa Butter Club are turning The Yard into a film set for a riotous celebration of Black cinema, bringing fire, burlesque, drag, dance and music to the stage. The show runs from 1–17 Oct, Thurs - Sat. Remember if you’re 27 or under you can get £5 tickets at the door (if the performance is not sold out)!

🍴Black Eats Fest is back Sat 3rd and Sun 4th Oct at Hackney Bridge, celebrating food, culture and community across the diaspora. The day is split into two sessions so grab a ticket and enjoy the Black-owned businesses serving up dishes and drinks alongside independent traders and brands.

🍺 The Lord Napier is having an Oktoberfest Party this eve, Wed 30th Sept, from 6pm - with Drop Project’s Czech Dark Lager and a complementary pretzel on the house.

Check out local culture reviews, features & interviews every week on thisisthewick.com

Review: P F Chang’s, Westfield Stratford City

Review: ‘Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy’ at Stratford East

The Entrepreneur: Stuart ‘Tommo’ Thomson on building Barge East

Queer Edge: Evolving with the Challenges of Nightlife

The Battle for Vittoria Wharf is On

We’ve joined forces with new small business newsletter Ping, which offers free advice to exactly the kind of independent and neighbourhood businesses we like to champion around here, so why not give it a read, too…

🎸Mezzo Corner kicks off a new three month residency at Grow tonight, Wed 30th Oct, bringing us a jam session every last Wed of the month. It all started around a picnic bench in Queen’s Yard and is now returning with a new house band: Shanise Hall on trumpet, Dragon King on guitar, Angus on keys, Reuben on sax, with Mezzo on guitar and hosting.

🎤 FIGURA takes over Colour Factory on Thurs 1st Oct, bringing together Chy Cartier, Slew, vvsmygwen, Chefbkay, N4T and DJ Rosetoy. It’ll be a mix of underground rap, experimental electronics and everything in between, with FIGURA bringing together artists pushing their respective scenes in different directions.

🪩 CONTR4ST takes over Vittoria Wharf Studio on Fri 2nd Oct for a 6 hour set from fka.m4a, with support from CLOSE PROXIMITY - bringing euphoric, dreamy and progressive house, with some trance and Italo thrown into the mix.

🪩 At no. 90 on Sat 3rd Oct, Sound & Silence are hosting a Sober Rave - bringing two hours of uplifting electronic music and movement, with DJ TIMANTI behind the decks. The event is followed by an optional lunch and hangout on the terrace.

🔥 Half Baked will also be at No.90 Lock on Sat 3rd Oct for a night of house and techno, celebrating the birthday of resident Sam Bangura. The lineup features Manfredas, Melody, Sam Bangura and Daddybisht, with the party running until 6am before heading over to Starlane Pizza Bar for the after-party.

🥨More Oktoberfest celebrations this weekend with Crate’s Beerghain Taproom event on Sat 3rd Oct, bringing together two sides of German culture for one night. There’ll be Bavarian beers on tap and German melodic techno from DJs Calan, Eze & Jugin.

☕Grow London Local’s free Coffee Friday is coming to VaffanCoffee this Fri 2nd Oct. It’s a relaxed networking morning for local small businesses, with a chance to meet other owners, swap experiences and get advice from the Grow London Local team. Register online for a free ticket.

🧘 Social Yoga is hosting free drop-in yoga session Open Practice every Tues 10-12, where you can explore yoga without having to join a formal class - just two relaxed hours of movement, breathing, ideas, questions, tea and conversation. Contact via the website to book.

🏗️ Riverside East is looking for its next operator. The Olympic Park is offering up the venue as a new opportunity for retail, hospitality, leisure and event-led businesses, with 14,094 sq ft of indoor space and 27,258 sq ft outdoors. The site includes a fitted café/bar and kitchen, a large first-floor events space with its own catering kitchen and roof terrace, plus a courtyard that could be used for outdoor dining, seasonal activations or fan zones during stadium events.

🏃 Team Marathon London is bringing a new kind of running event to Hackney Wick in May 2027. Rather than one person taking on the full 26.2 miles, teams of four will each run 10.55km together, with no relay handover. The race will be wrapped up in a festival-style atmosphere with DJs, live music, a brass band, street food and drinks. Tickets start at £26.20 per runner. Join the waiting list here to grab tickets when released.

📈The Fashion Business School at London College of Fashion is offering Help to Grow: Management, a practical 12-week programme for senior leaders of established UK businesses with 5–249 employees, designed to strengthen leadership, improve efficiency, explore new growth opportunities and tackle business challenges. Alongside an experienced business mentor and the chance to connect with other business leaders, participants will develop a personalised Growth Action Plan to take away. The programme costs £750, with 90% funded by the UK Government, and a bursary may be available depending on eligibility. The next cohort starts 4th Nov.

💼 East London Dance is looking for a new Executive Director. The organisation is after a strategic and entrepreneurial leader to help shape its next chapter, building on almost four decades of using dance to support participation, creativity and cultural impact across east London and beyond. The role will involve delivering the organisation’s vision, strengthening partnerships, driving sustainable growth and leading its work across culture, community engagement and organisational development. Applications close Thurs 8th Oct.

💸 The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust is offering grants of £500-£8,000 to UK-registered charities with an annual income of under £5m. The funding supports projects across three areas: participation in the performing arts, creative health interventions, and heritage crafts and skills, with a particular focus on increasing access for communities facing barriers to opportunity. Applications close on Fri 2nd Oct.

😂 Got a grassroots project that could do with £5,000? The Happiness Fund is offering two £5,000 grants to community-led projects working around mental health, wellbeing, inclusion or skills development. Run by Laughology, the fund is looking for projects that can have a long-term impact and help people thrive, so if you’ve got an idea that could make a difference in your community, it could be worth a look. Deadline is Fri 2nd Oct.

🎵 The Youth Music Trailblazer Fund is now open for applications, offering grants of £2,000-£30,000 to organisations running projects that help children and young people make, learn and earn in music. The fund is particularly interested in projects that trial a new way of working, help sustain a grassroots programme, disrupt the status quo - or ideally, all three. Applications close on Fri 20th Nov.

📕 The Wick Book is a limited edition 160-page hardback historic record, looking at 15 years of culture, community and change in the neighbourhood through the pages of The Wick. We’re now down to the last 30+ copies.

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