Islington planning chiefs to vote on King’s Head Theatre Pub revamp tonight

King’s Head Theatre Pub on Upper Street, Islington. Photograph: Islington Council

A major revamp of the King’s Head Theatre Pub is expected to get the go-ahead from Islington Council’s planning committee tonight at a meeting in the Town Hall.

The popular Upper Street venue is hoping to move its theatre into the Islington Square complex behind the pub, where a new space with a 276-seat auditorium will be joined to the pub by a courtyard under a canopy.

The current theatre will become part of the pub, in plans which include demolishing dressing rooms and a new roof terrace, which would have to close at 9pm.

The King’s Head Theatre Company would move next door to a 113-seat space in the John Salt Bar so it can stay open while building work takes place.

The arrangement will also be voted on tonight by the planning committee as it involves a new temporary licence for the John Salt.

Council planning officers are recommending the committee grant the Kings Head application.

In their report, they said: “The benefits of the proposed development, namely the securing a modern, accessible, inclusive and financially sustainable home for one of Islington’s key cultural institutions for the foreseeable future have been considered in the balance of planning considerations.”

“Officers are of the view that these benefits, which would also see the Islington Square development gain an important arts based attraction, together with the adequate arrangements that would be put place to ensure the theatre has an appropriate temporary home (the John Salt), significantly outweigh any potential adverse impacts which may arguably include the ‘loss’ of the original Theatre space in the King’s Head Pub”, they added.