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Shillibeers in Holloway |
Tough measures at bar venue for party on night Ben died
Licensing chiefs ban events staged by promoters
THE bar where 16-year-old stabbing victim Ben Kinsella spent his final hours had its licence reviewed at a Town Hall hearing this week.
Ben died following a night out at Shillibeers, off North Road, Holloway, in June. He had been at the Carpenters Mews venue with friends celebrating the end of their GCSE exams, a Town Hall hearing was told on Tuesday. They were involved in a scuffle inside and were ejected from the bar along with the teenagers they were arguing with.
Ben was stabbed minutes later at the junction of York Way and North Road.
Sergeant Graham Henry called for a review of the venue’s licence after interviews with witnesses revealed that under-age drinking had taken place that night.
Police were concerned that while door staff had allowed the 16-year-olds in – as they were legally allowed to do, provided an adult was present – bar staff had not asked anyone for ID.
“There were 150 present in the premises and how many were under-age we don’t know but Lee Kershaw [the detective in charge of the murder investigation] said a significant number of people were in the premises and were drinking alcohol,” said Sgt Henry.
According to Robert Sutherland, representing Shillibeers’ owner Roger Payne, bar staff mistakenly believed door staff were checking customers’ ages and they therefore didn’t need to.
“We accept that some forged IDs did manage to fool those on the doors,” said Mr Sutherland. “Police have accepted that these persons were not challenged at the bar. Bar staff believed door staff had challenged them and therefore didn’t carry out their own responsibility.”
In calling for the review, Sgt Henry criticised the bar for ejecting the rowing teenagers together.
But at the hearing this week he conceded it would “generally have been a small point but obviously because of what happened it magnified that point”.
Police and councillors praised Mr Payne for his co-operation since the tragedy and acknowledged that an outside promoter who hosted the night was known for attracting teenagers to the venue. They accepted Shillibeers was not seen as a teenage drinking destination.
Mr Payne said: “Why we were targeted as the after-GCSE party I don’t know.”
Concerned neighbour Eileen Lucas told the panel she and 17 other residents, who had signed a petition, had complained for years about violence, noise and disturbance from Shillibeers at weekends. She said there had been a stabbing there three years ago which police and the council failed to take seriously.
However, the panel accepted that until Ben’s killing Shillibeers had “been off the police radar”, as Mr Sutherland described it.
Panel chairwoman Lib Dem councillor Laura Willoughby told Mr Payne that if he had not sacked the bar’s manager they would have considered removing him.
Instead, outside events promoters have been banned and under-18s must leave the premises after 11pm. Door staff must patrol the area for an hour after closing time.
To reduce noise, all doors and windows must be closed at all times and customers must be inside by 10pm.
The bar’s alcohol licence remains until midnight throughout the week and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Cllr Willoughby said: “What we saw was a premises dedicated to changing. If they don’t, on their head be it.”
She added afterwards: “We’ve put tough new conditions on Shillibeers’ licence. The police didn’t ask us to shut the venue down, but wanted us to impose more conditions, which is exactly what we’ve done.
“We’ve also imposed extra conditions of our own, including a ban on outside promoters’ events, a ban on under-18s after restaurant hours, extra security staff to keep people safe and regular meetings with concerned residents.
“Shillibeers needs to prove that it can be a responsible manager and a good neighbour. |
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