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‘We are not ogres’ plea by pub landlords
THE landlords of a pub that lost an appeal to open an hour later have said they are not the “ogres” they have been made out to be.
Trish and Lindsay Campbell, who run Primrose Hill’s Prince Albert pub have defended their record as a “local pub for local people” after Highbury Corner Magistrates threw out their appeal on Monday.
Residents and Camden Council’s licensing officers objected to the pub’s request to be allowed to open until 11.30pm on weekdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
But district judge James Henderson did not go as far as residents requested, refusing to curb the hours the beer garden can open.
Sophie Levy, of Princess Road, told the court: “Despite wearing earplugs, I find it often difficult to get to sleep. I’m woken up by noise from people in the beer garden and from people leaving when the pub closes, hanging around and being raucous.
“Having the hours put back by even an hour is very distressing for me.”
Neighbour and customer Richard Humphries told how he regularly visited the pub but wanted the hours to remain restricted.
He said: “This isn’t a violent or rowdy pub in any way. But there’s a very specific problem around the Albert, which is the acoustics. The English seem to shout at each other rather than talk when they go for a drink.”
Landlord Lindsay Campbell told how the use of the beer garden was essential for his business and any loss of its use would be “devastating”.
He argued opening longer would make for a more “civilised period” of drinking up time so customers are not rushed to finish their drinks.
He said: “There will be little or no commercial gain from opening later but I hope it will take people off the streets and reduce that pressure on staff.”
His wife, Trish, speaking after the hearing said: “We run a good pub. We don’t have any problems.” |
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