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Drunken louts face a blanket ban from every bar in Fulham Broadway
Katharine Barney19 Jan 2010
Drunken revellers could be barred from entire neighbourhoods rather than just individual clubs and pubs under new rules to combat alcohol-fuelled crime.
Hammersmith & Fulham council wants to ensure that people who are banned from one venue will be denied entry to all other bars nearby.
New laws, which are already being tested, are expected to be given the go-ahead next week.
It comes after residents around Fulham Broadway complained about binge drinkers fighting, being sick and urinating in their streets and front gardens.
Residents and the police will also be given the power to block licences for new venues and applications to extend opening hours.
At a council licensing committee meeting last Thursday, councillors unanimously supported the new cumulative policy for a “saturation zone” in Fulham Broadway.
Objectors will be able to tell the licensing sub-committee that they believe a new licence in this zone will cause trouble. The potential licensee would then have to explain how they would prevent that problem happening.
Existing licences for premises in the area would not be affected but applications to vary licences, such as extending opening hours, would be.
Under the new rules on rowdy behaviour, landlords and the police can ban anti-social drunks from all establishments in Fulham Broadway.
Councillor Greg Smith said: “Our residents have had enough of drunken idiots vomiting in their gardens, wailing like banshees on their way home and even having sex in their streets at night.”
Eleven Pubwatch members, including Belushi's, The George and Fiesta Havana, have signed up to the agreement.
They notify police and the council when they ban an individual and it is up to the Pubwatch committee to decide how long the ban will last.
Ben Chapman, manager of The Elk Bar, said: “It will stop troublemakers coming to the area. The whole point is to have a domino effect on their night out, so that they can't just go to the pub next door and get away with it.”
Neil Hulme, deputy manager of The George, said: “We get a lot of rowdy football fans down here and we need something to make people realise that they can't just be as drunken and abusive as they like in our pubs.”
It is expected the full council will approve the scheme at a meeting on 27 January and it would come into effect immediately.
The council has also targeted off-licences selling strong and cheap alcohol. Last year five stores were ordered to stop selling beer, lager or cider with an alcohol content of 5.5 per cent or more.
Reader views (15)
we have had pub watch in my town for years and it does not work. You cannot expect every police officer, door man and bar staff to remember the face of each person they ban/ kick out. what about the innocent? those who are attacked by a drunk thug who defends themselfs they might get a ban.
"dont give the pub staff your name" wont work just get old bill to nick you and get your name there, or better still your drunk they evict you, you moan they ID you and with out thinking you show it.
- Andy, hants, 24/01/2010 18:00
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what a load of rubish pubs are to happy to see chelsea are at home were they charge so much money for a drink. people want to unwind arfter a hard week at work and watch there heroes playing the game they love. if they think someone has had to much to drink... dont serve them... end off... its not chelsea fans who are ruining it its the pubs managers who only care about it is profit so the pubs and clubs are gaining, nobody else.
- Scott, london, 23/01/2010 00:12
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Neil Hulme (deputy manager..lol ) has been in the George for 3 months..He knows nothing about the area or Chelsea fans...He is a Fulham outsider,who is now apparently an expert on the area...I hope he is so vocal about his opinion at the next home match,when Chelsea visit The George...Doubt it after they read this 
- Punkpete, Fulham,London, 19/01/2010 20:11
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A far better ruling than increasing the price of supermarket alcohol. I can't afford to go out..!
- Paul, Bromley, 19/01/2010 17:43
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Excellent idea except for the fact it is completely unenforceable. Other than that fact an excellent idea.
- Nj, London, 19/01/2010 17:32
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This comes a bit late for me. I moved house when this area expanded dramatically and dozens of many standing-room only shebeens opened, after a year of constant trouble and sleepless nights. I'd previously had seven years of [eace and harmony in what was once a super area for a young family. The football crowd were always ghastly but had previously usually moved on after an hour or two. This congregation of bars encouraged them to stay all night leaving residents to pick up the pieces. The Police were hopeless. Indeed I was cautioned myself for 'taking issue' with some thugs vandalising cars in my road. The thugs were sent on their way. Fulham has moved up in the world over my thirty years in London. These all night drinking halls were dragging it back in time.
- Giles Hamilton, Wandsworth London, 19/01/2010 17:22
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Allan,
I believe there is a law against selling alcohol to someone who is too drunk for their own good.
However most pubs/bars will not adhere to this as those people are the ones that spend the most money on the bar.
I think pubs/bars should be fined for the amount of people that leave their establishment in less than a desired state.
I drove down Fulham high street a few weeks ago and some idiot jumps in front of my car and then throws up all over it!
- Josh, London, 19/01/2010 17:12
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At last! It’s not the drinking hours it’s the people abusing alcohol, getting drunk with anti-social behaviour that’s the problem. The consequences have to strong, because not all drinkers act this way and why should we all suffer because of a few idiots!
NIMBYs– remember most choose to live in these types of areas because of the buzz of bars, restaurants etc. I know at least 2 people who chose to live in this area because of the vibe.
- Jade, London,, 19/01/2010 17:10
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The prolem here was created by the council years ago,allowing so many bars and restaurants to be opened without any thought for residents.Their only interest in this matter,coining in more business rates.This area is vile and lets not forget the hideous noise of awful music that comes from a lot of these premises.
- Guy, london, 19/01/2010 16:22
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So the George don't like rowdy football fans - funny that they are quite happy to milk them for every last penny when Chelsea are at home
- Paul, Ealing, 19/01/2010 16:10
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Isn't it illegal to sell alcohol to someone you believe might be drunk?
- Allan, Fulham London, 19/01/2010 15:39
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While I agree with the sentiment behind this (only one of the aforementioned drunken louts wouldn't, I'd guess) I am concerned at the already mentioned easy way to get around it, needing an arrest or caution by the police to make it work (to get the name), but also the fine tuning by the local authorities over who can and who cannot have a drink in "their" pubs. If they can do it for one thing, they can do it for another - and I've never yet seen a good idea that wasn't stretched all out of shape by opportunist politicians of any stripe.
- Rogan, Irving, 19/01/2010 14:47
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When I lived in London, I spent an evening in Fulham Broadway - I didn't go back due to the number of idiots I'd encountered. Good to see something being done. Perhaps other councils should use this as a case study, or better still - implement the same sort of thing.
- Jock, Scotland, 19/01/2010 12:58
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yes and all they will do is move to other areas, so Chelsea is just shifting their problems onto the next council.
- Josh, London, 19/01/2010 12:31
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Simple to get around this measure. Don't give the pub staff your name. They have no legal power to compel you to give to them. I'll drink to that.
- Darryl Van Horne, Londonium, 19/01/2010 11:48
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