A North Finchley bar where 30 people were fined for flouting Covid-19 lockdown restrictions has been stripped of its premises licence.
Photo of beer glasses
Barnet Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee took action to revoke the Red & Black Restaurant & Bar’s alcohol and music licence after the venue was caught hosting a party last month, and because of a string of previous complaints about late night music.
On 9 January 30 people were given fixed penalty notices by police after the clear breach of Covid regulations. When officers broke up the gathering at 2am they found a party underway at the bar in High Road, N12, with loud music playing and alcohol being consumed.
The committee, which met on 4 February, also heard details of a number or previous complaints about the venue and how repeated warnings from licensing officers had gone ignored.
The council’s licensing team said all other avenues had been exhausted leaving no other option but to seek to have the premises licence revoked.
One resident living nearby told the committee that the music was so loud it would cause the walls to throb and that the noise would often continue well into the night, on one occasion until eight on a Monday morning.
The application for the licence to be revoked was supported by the police.
Councillor John Marshall, Chairman of the Licensing Sub-Committee, said: “This venue has caused misery to neighbours, and to host a party attended by a large number of people at the height of the pandemic is utterly reckless. At this stage there can be no excuse for licence holders not knowing the rules and what their responsibilities are.
“Given the seriousness of the concerns, there was no other option but to revoke the licence.
“I hope this sends out a very clear message to licensees that this kind of disruption to the lives of residents and flagrant disregard for the rules will not be tolerated.”
The licence holder has 21 days in which to appeal the decision.