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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 17 October 2008

Jonathan Ross

‘Wild West London’ night of club boss

THE licensee of one of Islington’s most exclusive venues – where celebrities such as Graham Norton and Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen have attended events – has spoken out about the night a gunman opened fire outside his club.
Jonathan Ross, 36, described how Dust in Clerkenwell Road had been going for 10 years without a single incident involving police until last month, after which the club was temporarily closed.
Mr Ross was talking after an Islington Council licensing hearing on Monday, when police allowed the club to re-open following the introduction of a series of new security measures.
He said it was his first experience of “Wild West London”. Mr Ross said that a fight had broken out at a private invitation-only party at 3.34am.
“A chap was dragged from the party downstairs to the ground floor bar and then outside,” he said.
“That’s where we believe someone was waiting for him with a gun. The assailant started shooting as the man ran down the road.
“The chap from the party was hit only in the leg and later treated in hospital.”
Mr Ross added that the incident was a particular shock because the club normally attracts an older, better behaved crowd.
He said the club would be introducing hand-held devices to check for weapons and drugs. It would also be extending CCTV inside and outside the premises.

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