Highgate karaoke bar could lose licence over noise complaints

Haringey Council said it had also found the venue staying open well past its legally-permitted closing time, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

The Village Square (credit Google) and (inset) licence holder Onyekachi Onuiri

A karaoke bar and nightclub in Highgate associated with “shouting, screaming” and antisocial behaviour could lose its licence following a review by Haringey Council.

The local authority’s licensing subcommittee met on Monday (27th) to review the premises licence of The Village Square in Archway Road, following numerous issues raised by the council, the Metropolitan Police and members of the public.

A council report explained that it first started issuing formal warnings to the late-night venue nearly six years ago. These were followed by a more serious ‘licensing warning letter’ in October last year.

The council said that “despite repeated warnings” it continues to receive “serious reports” about the premises.

The local authority also said it had found the venue staying open well past its legally-permitted closing time and that it had “caught the establishment operating with no SIA [Security Industry Authority] door security staff present, which is a direct violation of its licence”.

The Metropolitan Police have advocated for the nightclub’s premises licence to be revoked, pointing to “excessive noise, shouting, screaming, antisocial behaviour, nitrous oxide use, littering, discarded canisters and significant disturbance to local residents during the early hours of the morning”.

At Monday’s meeting, PC Derek Ewart acknowledged that revocation is the most serious power available to a licensing authority, but added: “Parliament provided it for cases where lesser interventions have failed. The Metropolitan Police submit that this is such a case.”

Onyekachi Onuiri, the licence holder and designated premises supervisor (DPS) of The Village Square, told councillors that a “complex” medical procedure he underwent abroad last October had prevented him from returning to the UK until recently.

This, he argued, meant he was “absent” from the day-to-day management of the premises due to circumstances “entirely beyond” his control.

Onuiri explained that, since his return, he has “carefully reviewed every concern that has been raised” in the licence review and used it “as an opportunity to fundamentally improve how the premises operates”, including how it addresses antisocial behaviour outside the venue.

The licence holder noted that “many of the individuals responsible for these disturbances are not customers of The Village Square Karaoke Bar” and that his security staff had “extremely limited” legal powers to control people once on the street.

Onuiri argued that his business had become “an integral social venue” in the local area and that he was committed to “maintaining a safe, respectful and well-managed environment for both customers and our neighbours”.

Instead of revoking his licence, he asked the committee to “allow sufficient time” for the enhanced safety and security measures he had introduced “to demonstrate their effectiveness”.

Nick da Costa, chair of the licensing committee, said he wanted to see “a vibrant high street” with “local businesses flourishing” – but argued that licensing conditions had been breached “on repeated occasions”.

He added: “From everything provided, the residents of Highgate do not feel they have confidence that the licensing conditions put in place or the action plan put in place will be upheld, and we’re worried that more and more complaints will come.”

Cllr da Costa said that revoking the venue’s licence could allow for “a clean slate approach to the premises” where a new, more responsible, business could one day replace the existing bar.

A decision notice is due to be published next week.

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