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| ‘Late-night buzz would
threaten villagey values’ |
Ex-city editor among objectors
opposing drinks after midnight
Flask Tavern in Highgate |
A FORMER city editor at the Daily Mail newspaper is part of a
campaign to prevent a Highgate pub serving drinks after midnight.
Businessman Sir Patrick Sergeant has written to the Town Hall’s
licensing department objecting to the bid by the Flask Tavern in
Highgate West Hill to stay open until 12.30am.
He said: “Week by week, the crowds at the Flask become noisier
and noisier, especially when the customers sit outside.”
The application, one of the first in Highgate to be considered at
the Town Hall, will be discussed at a meeting tomorrow (Friday).
The result of the hearing will be watched carefully by other landlords
in the neighbourhood as pubs jostle for the best opening hours.
Similar battles have already been fought by residents in Hampstead,
Kentish Town and Primrose Hill since the introduction of the government’s
new licensing regime, which scrapped fixed pub trading times.
Sir Patrick, a resident of The Grove, a street near the Flask Tavern,
added: “The noise is a considerable nuisance to us already
and the last thing neighbours of the Flask desire is any increase
in this noise.”
The 81-year-old was business editor at the Daily Mail between 1960
and 1984, created the newspaper’s Money Mail section and was
named financial journalist of the year in 1979.
Sir Patrick is not the only protester who has predicted sleepless
nights for residents if the later hours are approved.
Furniture designers Tristam and Hazel Mylius, who live in Bacons
Lane, said in their letter: “We feel privileged to live in
such a lovely part of London. We love Highgate for its ‘villagey’
qualities, its green-ness, peace and quiet… and its great choice
of pubs.
“There are many areas of London – areas of Camden –
where late-night activity, noise, music, ‘buzz’ are the
norm, accepted and acceptable. We have chosen not to live in Camden
High Street or Covent Garden.”
Mr Mylius added: “The issues of yobbish behaviour, binge drinking
and alcohol-related crime have become matters of topical public
debate recently.
“I would be really saddened and shocked if Camden Council were
to allow this application to go through.”
Pub owner Mitchells and Butlers has told the council that the later
hours – currently last orders are served at 11pm – will
not cause problems. A statement from the firm said: “Reasonable
steps are taken to recognise the rights of residents and to encourage
customers to leave the premises quietly.”
Pub bosses will put their case at tomorrow’s meeting, due to
be chaired by Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Keith Moffitt.
The firm’s statement added: “It is our opinion that the
nature of the operation and proposed variation will not lead to
any increase in the risk to public safety.
“The existing policies (in the pub) will simply be extended
to cover the relatively small increase in opening hours.” |
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