In the heart of legal London, the latest dispute in need of resolution appears to be between near-neighbours the Royal Courts of Justice and ancient lawyer watering hole the Seven Stars pub on Carey Street.

Obiter recently spied a laminated notice sternly headed ‘Serious Balustrade Issue’ attached to a tree between the two buildings by the Stars’ characterful landlady, Roxy Beaujolais.

Customers at the Stars, many of whom are lawyers, often use the stone balustrade behind the Royal Courts of Justice as an informal extension of the pub.

‘We have been advised,’ Beaujolais wrote, ‘that careless use of the balustrade… has been causing an ever-increasing shower of rubbish, bottles and drinks glasses that smash on the basement area below… If there are many more accidents the matter will be reported to Westminster Council, who will certainly ban all further drinking along the balustrade.’

The Stars has been around since 1602, surviving much, including the Great Fire of London; whereas the arriviste Royal Courts were opened by Queen Victoria in 1882. Is this po-faced youth failing to show respect for a seasoned elder?