Queenswood Café clashes with residents over late licence (From Haringey Independent)

Queenswood Café in Muswell Hill clashes with residents over late licence

4:09pm Sunday 6th June 2010 in Top Stories By Jack Royston

AN arty café in Muswell Hill sparked angry opposition from residents after applying for a late licence.

Queenswood Café, in Muswell Hill Road, is better known for its organic garden than late night music but applied to sell alcohol and provide live entertainment until 1am from Friday to Sunday.

The move was opposed by residents, the police and noise patrol officers who say customers queuing and leaving the venue could disturb the café's neighbours.

On the back of advice from the police the venue, which was also told it is not allowed to erect tents in the garden, is now only applying to serve alcohol and provide entertainment until midnight.

Murray Shelmerdine said: “To clarify, we have no intention of erecting any tents. Nor do we want to have a beer garden, and we will never be open to the general public in the evenings.

“The licence we are asking for is to cover meetings, events and private parties only, on an occasional basis.”

Councillor Jonathan Bloch (Lib Dem/Muswell Hill) wrote to the licensing committee saying he had been in contact with residents opposing the proposals and saying he shared their concerns about noise.

He said: “There will be no discos or DJs, and any recorded music should be played inside the café on a domestic hi-fi set with the volume control locked to a maximum set by Haringey's noise enforcement officer.”