Residents face off against owner of Bulgarian bar over late licence
Published: 7 January, 2011
by JOSH LOEB
THE owner of a Bulgarian bar and club branded “a risk to public safety” by residents has defended an application for extended opening hours, saying his clientele are peaceful.
Detar Hekuri, owner of Arda 2 in Seven Sisters Road, Holloway, denied his premises were the source of late night noise and said he employed security guards to ensure there was no trouble on the premises.
Arda 2, which Mr Hekuri says has a “95 per cent Bulgarian” clientele, serves Bulgarian food and hosts live entertainment including music and dancing.
Mr Hekuri currently has permission to provide entertainment from 9am until 1.30am from Monday to Thursday, from 9am until 4am on Friday and Saturday and from 9am until midnight on Sunday.
He wants to extend this until 3am from Monday to Thursday, 5am on Friday and Saturday and 3am on Sunday.
In a letter of objection to the proposals, to be discussed at an Islington Council licensing sub committee meeting, residents complain of “disorder, drunkenness and violence” outside the venue.
One resident wrote: “On occasion I have had to negotiate police tape as I emerge from my house in the morning and witness trails of blood on the pavement. In the past my front fence has been broken during brawls, and the more significantly inebriated have chosen to sleep off the effects in my front garden.”
Mr Hekuri said: “Any fights that have happened are nothing to do with our place. I chose my customers, my customers don’t chose me. I don’t chose people who are violent and most of the people who come here are couples who come to enjoy an evening meal.”
The licensing sub committee meeting was due to take place yesterday (Thursday).