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Camden News - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 8 January 2009

Tony Hillier

Pub near hospital faces fight over plan to open until the early hours

A PUB’S bid to stay open into the early hours could be rejected over fears late-night revellers will disturb patients at the nearby Royal Free Hospital.
The Roebuck, which sits opposite the Royal Free on Pond Street, South End Green, has applied to keep its basement bar open until 2.30am.
Youngs Brewery, which owns the pub, wants to offer drinkers an exclusive members club, but are facing stiff opposition.
The pub has advertised its downstairs bar, Fawns, as “Hampstead’s most exclusive late-night venue”.
A ladies’ night is planned for Thursdays and visitors will be asked to adhere to a “very smart dress code”, the manager said.
Each member would be able to sign in two guests.
But the plans have come under fire from the Heath and Hampstead Society, the South End Green Association (Sega) and the police.
Heath and Hampstead Society chairman Tony Hillier said the changes could affect patients at the Royal Free.
He added: “Essentially the application seeks to create a nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights.
“This is totally unacceptable. It will certainly result in huge public nuisance for the residents of Pond Street as well as the occupants of the Royal Free.”
Mr Hillier said there was no evidence of demand locally for a late-night venue.
Sega say they believe that the pub, which was built in the 19th century, would “shake” if dancing was allowed and claim it has poor sound-proofing.
A letter from the police added that the area had already had problems with street drinking and anti-social behaviour and they feared the extra hours would worsen the situation.
But the proposals have been defended by the bar’s management. Speaking on behalf of licensee Natalie Satchell, an assistant manager said: “This will be the only bar of its kind in the area. It is downstairs and this means the noise levels are very low.
“You simply cannot hear it from the street.”
The application will be heard by planning chiefs next Thursday, January 15.

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