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Friday 2nd December, 2005

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By TOM FOOT

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Fears of ‘booze binge’ fail to materialise for tired pub staff

Pub workers complain of working extra hours for same pay as new laws come in

FEARS that binge drinkers will pack out pubs all night failed to materialise this week as Camden’s publicans ushered in the government’s new licensing regimes.
But staff working in bars with late night licences say they are having to work 14-hour shifts – leaving them exhausted and fearful of late-night attacks on the way home.
Anne Tillinghast, assistant manager of the Oh! Bar, in Camden High Street, said the new hours were deeply unpopular with staff.
She said: “Staff just aren’t prepared to work the extra hours and we can’t afford to pay for cover. It’s okay to do the occasional long shift, but the thought of doing long shifts week in week out is very unpopular.”
Further down the High Street in the Carnarvon Castle – which did not apply for an extension to its hours – one member of staff, who did not want to be named, said he would not want to stay any later.
He said: “I’m already there most days from 8am until 1am. Would you want to serve someone who wants a drink at 4am on a Tuesday night?”
And Pat Logue, landlord of the Oxford Arms on Camden High Street – now open until 1am weeknights and 2am on weekends – said the later licence had not so far brought in enough cash to pay more staff.
He said: “We get people coming in here when the other pubs close. A lot of them just sit around to get out of the cold. That can be frustrating. People only have a certain amount of money to spend. Just because the licensing has changed it doesn’t mean everyone’s got an extra tenner. What it means is that we all work late for the same money. The staff get paid extra but the pubs suffer from the extra expenditure.”
Mr Logue, who has been landlord at the Oxford Arms for 12 years, said he was considering selling his business.
He said: “You will see a lot of managers who have been here a long time calling it a day. I’m constantly battling with drug addicts and getting offered things I don’t want. I don’t want to be here later in the night because it’s become a horrible place to be.”
But landlords of Camden’s other late night drinking establishments said late licensing would be worse for suburban pubs than in the city.
Vincent Quinn, manager of Quinn’s in Kentish Town Road, said the changes would not affect the area.
He said: “The problems begin when you get lots of people hanging around waiting for buses and taxis. That won’t happen in Camden.”
Mr Quinn said the changes gave sensible people the option of a late drink, but didn’t think it would cause any trouble. He said: “London is not a 9am to 5pm city anymore. People want to go to the theatre or the cinema and have a drink afterwards. If they are really drunk they won’t get through the door. Customers want a sensible place to drink with sensible staff.”
Dublin Castle boss Henry Conlon echoed Mr Quinn. He said: “I think the Licensing Act is all about places like Camden. So sensible people can come to a sensible place – not to do drugs or cause trouble – but to have a good evening. There is a progressive partnership with the police, councillors and the pubs in Camden. I can’t see it ever getting out of hand.”

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