Ekram Alam’s Animal Fayre deemed ‘inappropriate’ for Camden Centre

Published: 26th May, 2011
by TOM FOOT

IT was billed as one of the greatest animal shows this country had ever seen: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to touch a tiger, cuddle a crocodile or experience the “surreal sensation” as a tarantula walks up your arm. And all in the Camden Centre – the ballroom attached to the Town Hall headquarters in King’s Cross. 

Organisers were preparing to “astound” Camden residents by allowing them to spend up to 90 minutes touching and holding more than 50 marvels of the animal kingdom in July.

Tickets for the fortnight-long Ekram Alam’s Animal Fayre have been on sale online for £14 and advertised in listings magazine Time Out. But following complaints from animal activists that it was “totally incompatible with animal welfare” council chiefs have decided not to let out the venue for what it has decided is an “inappropriate event”.

A council communications officer added: “In addition, we have also been notified that the RSPCA do not endorse the event, despite such claims being made by the organisers. This event is inappropriate for the council to host and we have made it clear to the organisers that our premises will not be hired to them.”

Darren Hector, who runs the Wildlife Campaigns group, said he was concerned about the “macho displays of bravado” in an event that would treat animals like “playthings that people can pay to grope and prod”.

Ekram Alam’s Animal Fayre Ltd, based in New Bond Street in the West End, was set up in March by Ekram Alam, a former University College London medical student who is also a Michael Jackson impersonator.

A spokesman for the company yesterday (Wednesday) directed the New Journal to Mr Ekram’s Facebook page and website that was yesterday continuing to advertise the “magical” event and advising punters to “arrive early to avoid the queues”.

In its pitch to the council, the company said: “We take animal welfare very seriously, and as animal lovers keeping our animals happy and healthy is our top priority.”

A statement published on the company’s website yesterday, said: “We have been organising this event with the Camden Centre for several months and they have been aware of the nature of the event and how we planned to run it.

“After receiving some calls from a minority of extreme animal protesters, the Camden Centre withdrew from providing their venue for our event.

“We are currently booking a new venue for our event which will be announced soon, and we are also offering refunds to any customer who cannot make it to our new venue.”

The Animal Fayre was raising funds to help raise awareness about poisonous drinking water in Bangladesh.