|
|
 |
| |
Helena Bonham-Carter |
Star Helena loses late night battle of the celebrity boozer
Actress’s objection overruled but rock bands are banned at pub
FILM star Helena Bonham-Carter has lost a battle to prevent a pub that is a regular haunt of other celebrities staying open until midnight near her Belsize Park home.
But the Sir Richard Steele bar in Haverstock Hill has been told to go easy on hell-raising rock music and stick to jazz and swing.
The pub was told it must keep the noise down after winning a licence to stay open until midnight at a council meeting on Tuesday night.
Licensing chiefs wrote an explicit clause into the contract banning the pub from staging rock and pop bands – the kind of music celebrity customers Noel and Liam Gallagher are fond of.
The pub must stick to lighter music, such as folk duos or jazz bands.
Manager Paul Davies was warned that if loud music or rowdy customers break standard noise conditions then it will face enforcement action.
Neighbours of the pub left the licensing hearing disappointed that the bar had been granted permission for a late finish.
Many filed objections and appeared before councillors to explain how their evenings were regularly disturbed. Ms Bonham-Carter, who lives nearby, submitted a written objection but did not turn up to the meeting.
Instead, it was left to less well-known neighbours to make the point.
Alan Greenwood, who lives opposite, said he was aware there was a pub nearby when he moved in but that the level of disturbance was unreasonable.
He said: “We have heard a lot of blues music in the last six months. It’s like having Eric Clapton in the garden – at 10.30 pm.”
Another objector, Debbie Laister, said that rowdy revellers had left graffiti on her home and urinated against her door.
Mr Davies, who has run the pub for 20 years, said he had spent £1,000 on a system to encourage customers to leave quietly.
He denied suggestions that the pub had broken its previous licence by staying open later than it should have done.
In an attempt to keep the noise down, the bar has already said it will not show World Cup football matches on its televisions.
Mr Davies said he had asked for a dancing licence just in case customers began dancing spontaneously but added: “We are not looking to open a nightclub or disco. We do not want to alienate our neighbours. |
| |
|
|
|
