|
|
 |
| |
Amy Winehouse |
Amy’s favourite kebab shop hit by police swoop
Venue found flouting licence rules
ONE of Chalk Farm’s most popular venues – with late-night diners and Amy Winehouse alike – could be closed down after a secret police trawl of Camden’s streets over the weekend.
Marathon Kebab Bar, which holds a 3am licence on Fridays and Saturdays on the condition that it only sells alcohol with food, has been served with an official notice that its operations will face a review.
The case has been kickstarted after Camden’s most senior policeman, Borough Commander Dominic Clout, and Conservative councillor Kirsty Roberts, spent the final hours of Saturday and the early hours of Sunday inspecting the hectic nature of Camden Town and Chalk Farm’s night-time entertainment.
The Marathon was a well-known hangout of songstress Winehouse, who would often end up there after party nights out before she moved away from the area.
It is viewed by many Camden revellers as an institution – a bohemian venue which splits the attraction of late-night fast-food with live music and one last beer.
But Chief Superintendent Clout and Cllr Roberts, who both stayed out until 4am, made revellers leave the Chalk Farm Road venue on Saturday and told its owners to prepare for a licensing review at the Town Hall. A consultation aimed at collecting the views of neighbours and the Marathon’s owners began yesterday (Wednesday) and will run for 28 days.
Two food stalls in Chalk Farm in the Stables market development on Camden Lock bridge were also closed down on Saturday night, after they were caught serving food without a licence.
Chief Superintendent Clout said of Marathon: “What I saw was a clear flagrant breach of their numbers and it was a drinking den.”
According to police, Marathon had an additional 50 punters on top of the 99 it is allowed by law, while many of its customers appeared to be drinking without eating any food.
However, Chief Supt Clout pointed to Camden’s falling number of recorded violent crimes and said the licensing team and the licensees of Camden Town were generally running a tight ship.
He added: “I was reassured that our licensing regime is pretty robust and we’re dealing with licensed and unlicensed premises which are in clear breach.”
Describing Marathon as “a vertical drinking establishment,” Cllr Roberts said: “We heard a lot of excuses as to why things had gone wrong whereas I would prefer [they were] thinking about the safety of the residents and people who come into Camden. Ultimately, it is their responsibility to comply with their licence and there is no excuse [for breaches].”
Marathon’s owners declined to comment when contacted by the New Journal. |
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
