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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 25 July 2008

Pub claims karaoke refusal ‘unfair’

THE landlord of a pub refused a licence for karaoke has accused a councillor of “a conflict of interest” in supporting neighbours who complained that the bar is too noisy.
Marco Baiardo, landlord of City Pride in Farringdon Lane, Clerkenwell, claims his entertainment licence application was “unfairly” dealt with because Lib Dem councillor George Allan represented objectors while also being a member of the licensing committee.
Cllr Allan, who did not sit on the panel that heard the application, spoke up on behalf of two residents. After the City Pride application was refused, Cllr Allan then sat on the licensing panel hearing the next application.
Mr Baiardo believes it was wrong for Mr Allan to be a member of the panel for one hearing and an objector for another – although his actions were within the rules, according to the Town Hall. A spokeswoman said: “Cllr Allan was the ward member for City Pride so could not sit on the panel and he represented objectors in his ward. The application he was sitting on was the next item taken at the meeting, which was in Junction ward. He wasn’t breaking any rules.”
Mr Baiardo said: “We were refused even though we offered to put in a noise limiter and have doormen from 9pm. We’ve had a very biased and one-sided decision because the panel were being led by one of their colleagues.
“Our solicitors are writing to the chief executive to discuss this conflict of interest. We feel we’ve been unfairly dealt with.”
The objectors, speaking through Cllr Allan, complained that the pub, with a 24-hour licence, has repeatedly breached noise restrictions. City Pride has a licence for karaoke during private parties, which it retains, but had hoped to extend this to the public.

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