House of Cans co-owner Simon Brown

AN independent craft beer shop and an original tenant of Coal Drops Yard is closing down due to the “challenging economic landscape”, warning that the redeveloped railwaylands in King’s Cross “has its work cut out” for the future.

House of Cans first opened in 2018 after being offered a small kiosk, and then followed up with a second shop in Soho in 2024.

Both are closing this week, with the remaining stock being sold with one last hurrah for the King’s Cross Kiosk this Thursday.

House of Cans co-owner and “driver” of operations, Simon Brown, said the decision to close after seven years was difficult, but that it had been a challenge to make their business model work “the whole way through” as wholesale prices and overheads continue to rise.

He said: “I think the past few years, Covid and the cost of living crisis have had a knock-on effect for everybody, and particularly for independent businesses who are not only expected to pay the going rates but beyond the going rates.

“From a common sense point of view, it doesn’t make any sense to keep throwing money at something that just doesn’t make any.

The House of Cans shop which is closing in Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross

“Whilst we’re sad, and our customers are sad, it was a matter of time really. Closing is categorically the right thing to do.”

The Coal Drops Yard redevelopment – part of the wider overhaul of King’s Cross which attracted tech giants to a transformed brownfield site – was opened in 2018 as a “public owned private space” (POPS) and was redeveloped by Argent Group.

When it was first opened, priority was given to independent retailers or start-ups, as opposed to large-scale commercial businesses.

Since then, familiar corporate outlets such as clothing chain Uniqlo and high street smoothie makers Joe and the Juice have been allowed to move in.

Mr Brown said he would support this as long as a “balance is struck” between commercial and independent business.

He added: “Whilst I don’t think originally we wanted to see a Joe and the Juice in the Yard, I can see why they’re being given space, considering how many empty units there are.

“A better balance between the boutique independents and the larger businesses would generate more footfall and will benefit the area.

“In terms of the future of Coal Drops Yard, I think it’s got its work cut out because I also get the sense that people are moving on. Something’s got to change, if it’s going to remain a successful commercial enterprise.”

Mr Brown said he was upset about the closing of the business, but that he was looking forward to getting started on a new project in the pipeline, closer to his home in the north of England.