The Prince is now empty of customers after closing last week. Image: Eleanor Busby
A community pub has been closed after its popular manager lost an ongoing battle with the landlord and council.
Eileen Christie, 53, closed the doors of her Caledonian Road pub last week after the council told her she could no longer sell alcohol until necessary health and public safety requirements were met.
Andrew Panayi, the landlord who owns The Prince and many other properties on Caledonian Road, partitioned off part of the pub to create two flats a few years ago without the council’s consent.
Ms Christie will not take responsibility for Mr Panayi’s development, which took place before her management. The council demanded she draw up plans of the partition but she refused out of principle, calling it “unfair and wrong”.
She told Islington Now: “I cannot keep the pub. I cannot cope with the stress of it anymore.”
In November, the council insisted that no music could be played past 9pm until the ceiling was soundproofed, which would cost £20,000. Mr Panayi has refused to pay the additional costs, leaving Ms Christie with the financial burden.
“I haven’t got the money to put in the soundproofing without selling it. I feel I have been ripped off. Why should I have to pay the money? None of this was in my contract.”
Ms Christie bought a 16-year lease for The Prince in 2011and transformed the 100-year-old premises into a community hub.
In October last year, the council took out a warrant against the pub after receiving complaints about noise from nearby tenants.
Ms Christie’s pub was raided three times by the police but nothing was found. She believes the raids had a significant impact on her business.
She said: “The raids made people think we were dodgy but we are not. My pub’s reputation was destroyed.
“The way we have been treated you would think we were a rave pub instead of a small family pub who like a good old-fashioned sing along now and then.”
The majority of noise complaints came from only a few tenants and Ms Christie plans to take the case further with a solicitor.
Paul Convery, Islington council’s executive member for community safety, said: “This is a very complicated dispute between both Eileen and the landlord. She has really been through the mill on this.
“The Prince is a normal pub that has suffered from the impact of a rogue landlord. I don’t believe she should have to pay the £20,000. That is his responsibility. Eileen has been the life and soul of the neighbourhood and she will be greatly missed.”
Andrew Panayi was unable to comment.
