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Pub sounds last orders
Landlord blames licence refusal
A HAMPSTEAD pub has closed its doors five months after opening
– after its owner branded the Town Hall’s licensing
department “a joke”.
Heath Street’s Room 68, which boasted among its regulars
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and his partner pop singer Nicole
Appleton, is on the market after manager Stel Theodoulou failed
to get permission to stay open until 1am.
Mr Theodoulou, who closed the bar three weeks ago, also blamed
the move on the lack of parking in the area which he says drives
customers away.
Mr Theodoulou said: “The business is up for sale. It’s
pointless to stay open – I’m losing money.
“I was disappointed with the way the Town Hall handled
our application. We didn’t stand a chance. It was a joke.”
Neighbours objected to the extra hours because they said the
pub was noisy.
He added: “There were people who tested for noise. They
said they had no problem with us but the objectors said they
thought the noise was too much and the council accepted that.”
Neighbours told the initial licensing hearing in January that
they feared the proposals were an attempt to turn a venue that
was once a restaurant into a loud, late-opening music bar.
The building, which previously housed the short-lived China
Dreams restaurant, was the home of the Horse and Groom pub for
over 20 years.
Lib-Dem council leader Keith Moffitt, who sat on the three-strong
licensing panel, said Mr Theodoulou had applied in January and
then told to reapply in March when his business had been established
for longer.
He said: “The bar was treated fairly.” |
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