Police close Chateau 6

Monday February 22, 2010

A bar that served football fans before its licence allowed on the day of a clash between Chelsea and Cardiff City has been shut until further notice.

Over 5,000 Welsh football supporters travelled to the borough for last Saturday's (February 13) FA Cup clash, with police launching one of their largest ever security operations.

The inspector in charge of policing the match became so concerned about public safety in and around Chateau 6, in Fulham Broadway, that she closed the boozer at half-time.

Police took the case to West London Magistrates earlier this week (Tuesday, February 16) who decided that the bar should remain closed until the Hammersmith & Fulham Council's licensing sub-committee can review the licence.

Chateau 6 is accused of breaching several of the conditions of its licence on the day of the match. It is claimed that customers were sold alcohol from 10am, despite not being authorised to do so until 11am, and that door staff failed to carry out security checks on customers.

Despite receiving a letter detailing the seriousness of the fixture at Stamford Bridge and the likelihood of disorder, the manager didn't arrive until 11.30am - only 30 minutes before kick off. The police suspected more trouble after the match and had no faith in the management to deal with any issues, leaving them with no option but to close the bar.

Eyewitnesses spoke of hooligans in Fulham Broadway pelting police officers with smoke bombs and running riot, as they ruined a major road works area in Kings Road.

Cllr Greg Smith, cabinet member for crime and street scene, said: "People running bars, pubs and clubs in the borough have a responsibility to act responsibly and to toe the line. Any bar that breaks the conditions of its licence is effectively showing a blatant disregard for the law, and this simply will not do.

"The licensing committee will now have to make a decision on the bar's future when the review is called, based on the evidence it hears." A review is due to take place on March 1.

Chateau 6 hit the headlines in July 2007 when 46 year-old James Oyebola was shot dead after asking a drinker not to smoke inside the bar. Several stringent conditions were put on the premises' licence as a result of a review following the murder.