Crescent review call
Wednesday July 22, 2009
Residents in West Kensington are calling on police to seek a review of the licence of a bar with a chequered past.
There have been claims that The Crescent Club on North End Crescent is a blight on the neighbourhood and that the Metropolitan Police should call for its licence to be reviewed with a view to it being revoked.
David Morton, Chairman of Avonmore Residents’ Association, said: “People are outraged at what’s been going on there and do expect the police to call for a review. There has been huge local objection and people are concerned about the level of crime and disorder that seems to be linked to the club.”
Less than a month ago, in the early hours of June 21, a 33-year-old man was stabbed to death outside the venue. The murder followed a mass brawl in the street and came just days before the bar went before Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee to try and extend its licence and open until 5am on weekends.
On June 23, the sub-committee rejected the application after having listened to residents who claimed The Crescent was causing a rise in antisocial behaviour and disturbance in the area.
There were tales of fights, vomit on doorsteps and unruly behaviour outside the bar. The sub-committee was also told about noisy revellers, taxis and buses – claims that were backed up by the council’s environmental health department, which had received 20 complaints since the bar opened in November last year.
Joe Carlebach, co-chair of the Avonmore & Brook Green Safer Neighbourhood Ward Panel, has lived in the area for 16 years. He said: “I would certainly encourage the police to press for a review – it’s my understanding that it would be standard practice after an incident such as a murder.
“It would be a good chance for the owners of the club to do some soul searching and ask themselves ‘why are we here?’. When there’s a tragedy – a loss of life – then that’s the time to reflect and look at what is happening.”
The Crescent had already caused a furore among local people last November when it applied to vary the licence in a bid to turn the former Fox Tavern into a lap dancing club. The sub-committee also refused that application, having received over 1,000 letters against the proposals. Passion Nights Ltd then appealed the decision but withdrew at the eleventh hour.
Mark Wale, the owner of The Crescent, said at the recent meeting that he would not try to make the venue a lap dancing club. He said: “I realise that the past application for lap dancing was wrong and we have no intention of running as a burlesque club.”
Police records show that over the past six months there has been an increase in public nuisance and disorder in the area surrounding The Crescent, and Inspector Daniel Stobbart, who is based at Shepherds Bush police station, asked the panel not to extend the bar’s hours.
Insp Stobbart said that the police were aware that residents still had concerns. He said: “The police are increasing patrols by changing the shifts of the local safer neighbourhood teams. We are considering asking for a review of the licence.
“We met with the club on June 30 and they made several proposals to help reduce their impact on the local residents.”
The Crescent Club has now lodged an appeal against the council’s decision to refuse the variation of the licence, but no date has yet been set for the hearing.
