�A party pub known for its mammoth bass-heavy speaker system is to swap the banging beats for Bach.

The Star of Kings in York Way, King’s Cross, has started something of a nightlife revival in an area that once boasted the clubs Bagleys, The Cross and The Key – and is known more for beats than baroque music.

But the pub, with its top-of-the-line Funktion One sound system, is set to change the record with an evening of intimate classical music by an orchestra that only plays on historically accurate instruments.

William Norris, of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, said: “Doing a pub gig is the ultimate in breaking down barriers to classical music, taking it to where people are anyway.

“A pub is the most welcoming, familiar and relaxed environment, and people have the chance to get really close to the musicians and the music.”

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, which is based at the pub’s York Way neighbour Kings Place, plays its Night Shift concert there on Thursday, September 8.

The gig will feature baroque music by Henry Purcell and Johann Sebastian Bach played on the instruments the composers would have used.

‘Broad policy’

In another musical mix, Bob Stanley of indie darlings St Etienne will DJ between performances.

Chris Brown, manager at The Star of Kings, said: “As a pub we want to have a broad music policy and we’ve had customers asking about the concert and taking flyers.”

He said there is a clear market for “interesting classical music” among his customers, and added that as neighbours, the orchestra’s members understand what kind of venue the pub is aiming to be.