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Helena Bonham Carter
Chris Evans |
A-list versus B-list in battle of the celebrity-haunt pub
Noise from boozer disturbs my family says actress Helena Bonham Carter
FILM star Helena Bonham Carter is fighting to stop a pub close to her Belsize Park home – which is a regular haunt of other celebrities – from winning permission to stay open later.
The Hollywood star, who lives with film director Tim Burton, has waded into a row over whether the Sir Richard Steele bar in Haverstock Hill should be allowed serve drink until midnight.
She has warned noise from the pub, which boasts DJ and media mogul Chris Evans among its regulars and is frequented by Oasis pair Noel and Liam Gallagher will interrupt her family’s sleep and shatter their peace at weekends.
Licensing chiefs are due to review an application from the pub on Tuesday night. An initial request to keep the bar open until 1am has been amended. Councillors are due to hear from the bar’s management and a group of protesters, many of whom have already written to the Town Hall to object.
In her letter, Ms Bonham Carter said: “We live in extremely close proximity to the pub and already have to endure enough noise after the pub has shut. During the warmer months it is worse once the beer garden is being used and the noise carries into our own gardens, which make it difficult to have quiet summer evenings and weekends.”
Ms Bonham Carter and Mr Burton live just off Haverstock Hill. Although the letter was signed only by Ms Bonham Carter, the letterhead carried both their names.
Her letter added: “Also with a young child it is very disturbing to his sleep patterns, which is a major concern. If the hours are extended we fear that our quality of living is going to be severely hampered by even later noise, as of course you have to bear in mind that the noise doesn’t just finish once the pub doors close but long, long after.”
The make-up of the deciding panel was due to be confirmed last night (Wednesday). Another objector, Dr Anne Summers, a researcher at the London Metropolitan University who also lives nearby, “If granted, it would lead to a decline in the standard of living of all local residents, and would also lead to a decline in local property values.
“Residents paying council tax would be entitled to a revaluation of their tax bands and would entirely within their rights in insisting on a lower rating.” If the new licence is granted, the pub will also be allowed to stage music.
Steeles manager Paul Davies said: “We have been here for 20 years. I can’t see what the fuss is all about. It won’t be much of a change to the hours we already have got. I don’t think staying open to midnight on a Friday and a Saturday in a capital city is too unreasonable.
“It is a good local pub, it is well-known, we have a variety of people using it – but it is certainly not rowdy.” |
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