Camden News: Doctor Who stars sign petition in support of restaurant but bid to serve alcohol fails

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Camden News - By CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 17 April 2008

Billie Piper

Time-travelling pals look to Futura for a quiet drink

Doctor Who stars sign petition in support of restaurant but bid to serve alcohol fails

THEY fought on opposite sides of good and evil during recent star turns in the BBC fantasy drama series Doctor Who – but in real life actors Derek Jacobi and Billie Piper are firmly on the same team.
When it comes to a restaurant close to their Belsize Park homes, both thespians took time off from fighting Time Lords and Daleks to support its bid for a new alcohol licence.
Although several worried neighbours had asked councillors to throw out the application – which they warned would effectively turn the Futura restaurant in Haverstock Hill into a bustling bar – Sir Derek’s and Miss Piper’s names appear on a rival petition backing the change.
Sir Derek, who played the good doctor’s sinister arch nemesis The Master in the show last year, told the New Journal yesterday (Wednesday): “It’s convenient, it’s quick, they do good food and I’d like a bar at the end of the road.”
Futura, formerly the long-running restaurant Lanzi’s, had asked to vary its conditions so that customers can buy alcohol without the requirement of ordering food as well.
Ms Piper, the singer turned actress who played Rose Tyler in Doctor Who, also added her name to the petition which said: “We live in the close neighbourhood of Futura and would like the council to approve the above application in full as we believe we do need a venue like Futura in the area and would like to enjoy quality food and drink at our own discretion when visiting the premises.”
Applicant Siavash Mirzaagha, who opened up in January, told a licensing meeting on Tuesday: “This application was just to give flexibility for customers to enjoy a drink without having a meal. We have many respectable clients in the area. I feel bad when they come and they want to have a drink and I say no you have to eat.”
But despite the cast of stellar names backing his bid, the application was rejected by licensing chiefs.
Liberal Democrat councillor Ralph Scott said: “I’m sympathetic to the applicant, however the licensing objectives cannot be furthered by accepting this licence.”
He said Mr Mirzaagha should reapply for a new licence that sets out his wish to turn the restaurant into a bar and offer to reduce the hours.
Camden police’s licensing chief Sergeant Bob Dear had called for his bid to serve alcohol without food to be rejected unless opening hours were reduced. A clutch of neighbours spoke at Tuesday’s meeting to object to the application.
Objector Debbie Laister, said: “If there are people congregating without having a meal there’ll be a lot of noise. It just becomes a street of drinking activity.”

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