Smoky Boys restaurant on Upper Street

A BARBECUE restaurant in Angel that opened last summer is facing a backlash from local residents who say its proposal to stay open until 2.30am every day will increase crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

Smoky Boys, a “BBQ and grill haus” chain on Upper Street, has applied for permission to extend its opening hours – currently 10am to midnight, and 11pm on Sundays – to 2.30am daily, with alcohol sales and live music permitted until 2am.

But ahead of a decision by Islington’s licensing committee next week, 10 residents have submitted objections to the change, saying it would prove “intolerable” and increase public nuisance.

One resident, who urged the council to refuse the proposal, wrote: “The area is one which there is already a high level of crime and antisocial behaviour which seems to be increasing as is evidenced by the number of smashed shop windows along Upper Street and Camden Passage.”

Another concerned neighbour highlighted the plight of St Alban’s Place, an alleyway off the main road that is next door to Smoky Boys.

They wrote: “This small and often neglected minor road off Islington High Street has become not only a frequent dumping ground for litter and fly-tipping, but also a congregating point for delivery riders, with their vehicles parked up and radios blaring all through the day, but particularly the night.

“My point is that this street seems already IGNORED by Islington Council. Such a street should have at least some manner of CCTV surveillance, as at times it feels like a lawless street.”

A third wrote that visitors to the restaurant in the small hours would likely “already be in drink”, making crime and disorder “inevitable”, while another said they had witnessed “scooter riders engaging in drug deals” from their balcony.

The disruption of sleep caused by noise until 3am would be “intolerable to the working public”, they added.

Despite residents’ concerns, other nearby establishments are already operating until a similar time, including The Ladybird Bar, a few doors down from Smoky Boys, which is open until 2.30am most nights and 4.30am on weekends.

Nearby pubs The Steam Passage and The Bull are similarly open until 1am on weekends.

Concerns about Smoky Boys’ late-night operations follow a similar stand-off over a new bar due to open on Packington Street, called West 25.

More than 30 residents objected to the licence application by “The Flamboyant Collective”, who hoped to open a bar, restaurant and cocktail lounge on the site of the former Packington Arms, which would operate until 1.30am on weekends.

At a meeting in June, councillors green-lit the new establishment – but ruled that it must not operate later than 11.30pm.

Smoky Boys were approached for comment but had not responded by our deadline.