A coffee vendor near Angel Underground station says planned access changes could hit local trade, after Transport for London confirmed passengers will no longer be able to enter the station at weekends and on bank holidays from 2027.
Jerry Lay, who runs Jerry’s coffee kiosk opposite the station entrance, said he expects the change to reduce business by at least 10 per cent. His concern is that fewer people will pass through the area once Angel becomes exit-only at those times.
The change is tied to ongoing problems with the station’s escalators. Angel, on the Northern line, has three escalators that have been in service for 35 years, and TfL says maintaining them has become increasingly difficult.
Escalator problems behind the plan
The central escalator has been out of action since April. There are also concerns that the other two could fail within the next couple of years, raising the risk of wider disruption at the station.
TfL says the weekend and bank holiday restrictions are intended to help extend the working life of the remaining escalators for as long as possible while replacement plans are prepared. Design work on new escalators is due to begin this autumn.
Richard Jones, director of asset performance delivery for London Underground, said: “I understand that any disruption to the station will have an impact on customers, businesses and the local community and we will do all we can to work closely with local stakeholders to ensure that we mitigate the disruption as much as possible.”
Businesses say uncertainty is the problem
Lay said the issue is not only the planned restrictions but also the lack of clarity over how long they may last and whether they could widen. He said sudden station closures already make it difficult to judge how busy a day will be.
He told MyLondon: “I understand it’s got to be done and fixed permanently, but I would just like to see a clear plan of what that’s going to look like.”
Another coffee seller outside the station is also worried about the prospect of a full closure in future. According to the source material, that trader said most of his business comes in a three-hour window between 6am and 9am. Although his trade from weekday commuters will not be affected, he fears the prospect of a full lengthy closure could have a disastrous impact.
Political criticism and travel advice
Islington Council leader Una O’Halloran has criticised TfL’s handling of the issue, accusing the transport authority of waiting until the escalators failed before producing a plan. TfL has said the lack of earlier action was linked to a wider repairs backlog caused by Government funding cuts.
Concerns have also been raised about whether Angel station may eventually need to close completely for about a year while all three escalators are replaced. TfL had not responded to those concerns in the source material.
For passengers affected by the future weekend and bank holiday entry ban, TfL advises using King’s Cross St Pancras instead. The station is about 1km away, and bus routes 30, 73, 205, 214 and 476 connect the area to the interchange.
