A Bar Too Far?

It’s rare that a press release from Lambeth Council causes me to restrain my triggerhappy delete finger, but a recent missive from the team in red did achieve this miracle.

Not only did I not erase it from my inbox, I opened, read and considered it. council’s wish to hear from members of the public on the question of whether there were too many alcohol licensed premises on Clapham High Street. Reading it I reflected that the area between Clapham North and Common seems to have gone through the seven ages of man in the blink of an eye.

Just a couple of decades ago it was part of a sedate suburb, a High Street like any other; Blockbusters, J. Sainsbury’s, Gregg’s Bakers and a couple of launderettes that never seemed to be used. However, by the nineties it had transformed into a nappy valley, filled with baby boomers attracted by the ‘surprisingly reasonable’ prices for two-bed terraced properties with ‘lovely period features’ and ‘southwest-facing gardens’ off the ‘vibrant High Street with good transport links.’ Jump ten years and they’d all moved on to Northcote Road and Southfields and the average age dropped again as the empty terraces were rented by a postuniversity crowd, barbecuing on Clapham Common and spraying disposable income around like a drunk lottery winner.

Under these conditions, it’s little wonder that bar owners flocked to buy up any vacant lot on the High Street. What is surprising is that the council should send out the aforementioned press release and appearing to be shocked that police have reported high levels of antisocial behaviour when it was they that approved these alcohol licenses in the first place!

Should something be done? Can something be done? Or is the council guilty of trying to shut the bar door after the pint’s been bolted?

Jon Watt is editor of the Clapham & Battersea and Fulham editions of Time & Leisure Magazine.