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By ROISIN GADELRAB
 
Pub sounds last orders

Landlord blames licence refusal

A HAMPSTEAD pub has closed its doors five months after opening – after its owner branded the Town Hall’s licensing department “a joke”.
Heath Street’s Room 68, which boasted among its regulars Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and his partner pop singer Nicole Appleton, is on the market after manager Stel Theodoulou failed to get permission to stay open until 1am.
Mr Theodoulou, who closed the bar three weeks ago, also blamed the move on the lack of parking in the area which he says drives customers away.
Mr Theodoulou said: “The business is up for sale. It’s pointless to stay open – I’m losing money.
“I was disappointed with the way the Town Hall handled our application. We didn’t stand a chance. It was a joke.”
Neighbours objected to the extra hours because they said the pub was noisy.
He added: “There were people who tested for noise. They said they had no problem with us but the objectors said they thought the noise was too much and the council accepted that.”
Neighbours told the initial licensing hearing in January that they feared the proposals were an attempt to turn a venue that was once a restaurant into a loud, late-opening music bar.
The building, which previously housed the short-lived China Dreams restaurant, was the home of the Horse and Groom pub for over 20 years.
Lib-Dem council leader Keith Moffitt, who sat on the three-strong licensing panel, said Mr Theodoulou had applied in January and then told to reapply in March when his business had been established for longer.
He said: “The bar was treated fairly.”
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