Islington Tribune - by JAMIE WELHAM Published: 16 November 2007
Street drinking curfew backed
NEIGHBOURS have blocked an attempt to allow drinking outside a Finsbury pub until closing time.
Residents thanked Islington licensing chiefs on Wednesday for their “common sense” decision in not allowing customers of the Windmill pub, in Tabernacle Street, to drink outside after 9pm.
Neighbour Anna Pauley said: “It was getting ridiculous. Sometimes there were upwards of 100 people smothering the road outside and the noise was unbearable. “There are a lot of elderly people in the street and some can’t even get out of their houses for the number of people.”
Mrs Pauley produced photographs taken on her mobile phone showing throngs of drinkers blocking the street.
Pub landlord Alberto Romanelli said residents should not blame him for the area’s problems.
He added: “With or without me, there are a lot of clubs and bars in the area. It is just something we have to live with. “The smoking ban is killing my business. We are a City pub and people will go home after a couple of drinks. “If they can’t have a drink outside with their cigarettes, especially when it gets lighter, then they will just go elsewhere.”