Residents call for Haringey pub to be closed down

The North Eight pub, formerly the Hornsey Arms, had its licence revoked last month, but an appeal means it has remained open

A north London pub has said it is being unfairly targeted after residents called for police to shut it down over complaints of violence and vandalism.

The North Eight pub on Hornsey High Street, Haringey, had its licence revoked in August, but it has been allowed to stay open after its owners appealed the decision.

Since then, locals say anti-social behaviour has continued, with police called to fights outside the pub on 30 August and 8 September. The pub says it has been targeted because it serves members of the traveller community, and that a number of reports to the police were "false or exaggerated".

Haringey Council said it was "working with the police to urgently look into these matters".

A meeting of Haringey Council's licensing sub-committee on 5 August revoked the pub's licence, after concluding it had undermined all four licensing objectives.

These include prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm.

Committee member Labour councillor Adam Small said the licence holder had "repeatedly and egregiously" failed to uphold the "most basic requirements set out in the licensing act".

However, the pub launched an appeal, meaning it can continue to operate and its licence remains valid until the issue is heard at Highbury Magistrates' Court.

A group of locals has called for the police to use their powers to shut down the pub.

In addition to incidents on 30 August and 8 September, residents claim a nearby restaurant had its windows smashed by drinkers at the pub on 6 September.

Local resident Catherine Worboyes said: "The area feels more like the Wild West than a residential area of north London.

"It feels lawless, especially late at night, with people in the street fighting and drunk."

Residents are calling for the police to use their powers under the Licensing Act 2003 to shut down the pub

A local parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said she felt this was "a massive failing of the Metropolitan Police to act in the interests of public safety and common sense".

She said: "I used to let my kids pop around to the shops on their own during daylight hours, but can't do that now as these men seem to be drunk and out of control from morning till night."

'One bad egg'

Hornsey Arms Limited, trading as North Eight pub, said it had CCTV evidence to prove that many reports were false or exaggerated, claiming there had been "numerous times the police have turned up and nothing has happened".

It said "the people round here do not like the travellers being in their area".

The pub claims it has barred about 15 people, but said: "There's bad in every community, and if I've got 100 people in my pub, we could get one bad egg."

John Reilly, founder and director of the Gypsy Traveller League, said the pub had become "a target for the council, police and residents, because it's the only pub in the local area that serves travellers".

Mr Reilly accused other local pubs of refusing to serve travellers, stating that "we are dealing with a system where we are not wanted in society" and that many travellers "have to try and hide their identity".

He said the Gypsy Traveller League has worked with the North Eight pub to bar troublemakers.

Under the Licensing Act 2003, the police can close down premises that are disorderly, likely to become disorderly, or are causing nuisance as a result of noise from the premises, when it is necessary in the interests of public safety.

However, the Metropolitan Police said it could not comment on the power to close down the pub at this time.