Crouch End bar facing closure after alcohol licence revoked

A Crouch End bar has lost its licence to sell alcohol following a court battle with Haringey Council.

Kiss The Sky, in Park Road, has been told to pay £10,000 in legal costs after a judge upheld the council’s decision to revoke the premises licence following residents’ complaints over noise, antisocial behaviour, and the venue operating beyond permitted hours.

The council’s licensing subcommittee agreed to revoke the licence, which allowed alcohol sales and entertainment, in July last year, but the bar was able to carry on operating after appealing against the decision. The council said it served a noise abatement notice after complaints against the bar continued.

Following a two-day hearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court, where residents, the licensing authority and the council’s noise team gave evidence, a judge upheld the council’s decision and awarded costs of £10,000 to be paid within 28 days.

Kiss The Sky owner Tony Ray said the bar was “not an antisocial venue” and that the issues could have been resolved in one meeting. But he claimed that when the business had tried to arrange meetings, the council either declined or failed to show up.

Tony said: “It was extremely draining as it was clear their sole intention was to close the bar regardless of what we were doing. We spent thousands trying to please them through soundproofing measures.

“Mistakes were made, admittedly, but not enough to push to close the bar and punish the wider community as a whole, who now have no nightlife in the area.”

He added: “We begged the council for solutions and they offered none. We made several suggestions to the council but they ignored all. They wanted a ghost town and now they have it.”

The council said it had issued warnings to Kiss The Sky before its licence was revoked.

Dana Carlin, cabinet member for house services, private renters and planning, said supporting local businesses was “key to strengthening Haringey’s local economy and this was no different for Kiss The Sky”, adding that the council had tried to “engage with Mr Ray several times and help him obtain his licence as well as support him throughout this process”.

She added: “Since the review hearing, it was made clear that inadequate noise mitigation was in place. In addition, the council has received over 100 complaints from residents about loud music, amplified voices from outside the venue as well as inappropriate language shouting from customers. The business operated beyond its licensing hours on a number of occasions with drinks being served and a DJ performing.

“The health and wellbeing of our residents will always be our number one priority; therefore we will simply not tolerate any business who feel they are above the law.”