Streathamite
ideological dogmatist
Ooh! shot, sir! Richard, I am PMing you with names/ideas-check PMs
Living Bar: Racist
- Thread starter bang
- Start date
C
ceridwen
Guest
living bar racist
Well..well. Is there anyone out there who remembers The Coach and Horses and The Atlantic? They had black land-lords one Sonny and t'other George Berry. The Atlantic was well known as a meeting place for people arriving from the 'Islands' to look up friends and family. So wha' gwan? So is dat the same Lawrence who had a twin brother and a fat share of da Brixton Challenge cheque? Oooo..da stinky rascist plot thickens?? More info pleeze!!
Well..well. Is there anyone out there who remembers The Coach and Horses and The Atlantic? They had black land-lords one Sonny and t'other George Berry. The Atlantic was well known as a meeting place for people arriving from the 'Islands' to look up friends and family. So wha' gwan? So is dat the same Lawrence who had a twin brother and a fat share of da Brixton Challenge cheque? Oooo..da stinky rascist plot thickens?? More info pleeze!!
Mrs Magpie
On a bit of break...
Yes! I remember the Coach & Horses...bit of a dive towards the end but still far far FAR better than its new incarnation............
C
ceridwen
Guest
Definitly Hatboy! I shall tell all my friends as I'll be in the area this weekend! Respect!
Streathamite
ideological dogmatist
Bumped again, for same reason as hatboy's. HB, check PMs.
This man (merrett) is a cultural poison.
This man (merrett) is a cultural poison.
wurlycurly
diss member
Blacked by me and three friends last Saturday. U75 at its best.
Mrs Magpie
On a bit of break...
Yeah, told someone who was considering suggesting it as a venue for a hen party that it had a local reputation for racism.......so they went elsewhere........
Streathamite
ideological dogmatist
bump....Hatboy, Richard (Waterhouse), mrs M keep me posted in general (zat OK Mrs M?)
Mrs Magpie
On a bit of break...
Yes Jezza, as soon as I hear owt on the (hopefully crumbling) Merrett Empire you'll be the first to know!
Merrettville
More Tales from Merrettville can be obtained at www.companieshouse.gov.uk
Some companies of interest:-
Dogstar Leisure Ltd (03088638)
Living Room Leisure Ltd (63995826)
Redstar Leisure Ltd (04009939)
Play Leisure Ltd (04096298)
Number in brackets = company number.
Some of these companies have "The Brix" as their registered office. At least two are late submitting accounts. Naughty, naughty...
Dogstar and Living (Room) Bar accounts are of special interest. Is there really no connection between these bars, as claimed on another thread?
And does it make sense to boycott Living Bar but not Dogstar?
More Tales from Merrettville can be obtained at www.companieshouse.gov.uk
Some companies of interest:-
Dogstar Leisure Ltd (03088638)
Living Room Leisure Ltd (63995826)
Redstar Leisure Ltd (04009939)
Play Leisure Ltd (04096298)
Number in brackets = company number.
Some of these companies have "The Brix" as their registered office. At least two are late submitting accounts. Naughty, naughty...
Dogstar and Living (Room) Bar accounts are of special interest. Is there really no connection between these bars, as claimed on another thread?
And does it make sense to boycott Living Bar but not Dogstar?
TopCat
Putin fanboy
I am very biased on this.
I have loathed both the Dog awful and the Living hell since their inception.
Their predessors were much better, a bit seedy sometimes but I like that.
When The Railway is turned inevitably into another Living/Dog clone, the circle will be complete.
I will not drink in these establishments, I will throw stones when drunk, I will continue to bitch about them to my mates....
Fuck 'em...
And the horse they rode in on...
I have loathed both the Dog awful and the Living hell since their inception.
Their predessors were much better, a bit seedy sometimes but I like that.
When The Railway is turned inevitably into another Living/Dog clone, the circle will be complete.
I will not drink in these establishments, I will throw stones when drunk, I will continue to bitch about them to my mates....
Fuck 'em...
And the horse they rode in on...
WTG TC 
Another Merrett planning law violation:-
Locals will remember the old comic shop (Ace) at 391 Coldharbour Lane, next to Dogstar.
It closed a few years back and the metal riot shutter has been down ever since.
Suddenly it became the Dogstar cloakroom: a hole had been knocked through the dividing wall.
Suddenly Dogstar and MASS office space appeared in the upper floors, where previously there were flats.
Both events occurred without planning permission being sought and obtained: the Council's planning department computer shows the ground floor as daytime business premises and the upper floors as flats.
So Dogstar has breached planning law, caused daytime retail space to disappear from Coldharbour Lane and abolished central brixton residential units.
Dogstar did this without consulting the community - one of the main affects of ignoring planning law - and has undermined local democracy as a result.
Dogstar will have behaved in this way - disrespecting the community, undermining local democracy, breaking planning law, removing daytime retail space, abolishing central Brixton flats - to increase profits.
Should anyone wish to complain about this, details are:-
Planning Office Case Officer: Ms Julie Ann Bowker(jabowker@lambeth.gov.uk).
Should anyone wish to complain about the numerous Living Bar planning violations (Merrett was given until 23/5/02 to comply - see posts earlier in this thread):-
Planning Office Enforcement Officer: Mr Paul Wilford (pwilford@lambeth.gov.uk).
Locals will remember the old comic shop (Ace) at 391 Coldharbour Lane, next to Dogstar.
It closed a few years back and the metal riot shutter has been down ever since.
Suddenly it became the Dogstar cloakroom: a hole had been knocked through the dividing wall.
Suddenly Dogstar and MASS office space appeared in the upper floors, where previously there were flats.
Both events occurred without planning permission being sought and obtained: the Council's planning department computer shows the ground floor as daytime business premises and the upper floors as flats.
So Dogstar has breached planning law, caused daytime retail space to disappear from Coldharbour Lane and abolished central brixton residential units.
Dogstar did this without consulting the community - one of the main affects of ignoring planning law - and has undermined local democracy as a result.
Dogstar will have behaved in this way - disrespecting the community, undermining local democracy, breaking planning law, removing daytime retail space, abolishing central Brixton flats - to increase profits.
Should anyone wish to complain about this, details are:-
Planning Office Case Officer: Ms Julie Ann Bowker(jabowker@lambeth.gov.uk).
Should anyone wish to complain about the numerous Living Bar planning violations (Merrett was given until 23/5/02 to comply - see posts earlier in this thread):-
Planning Office Enforcement Officer: Mr Paul Wilford (pwilford@lambeth.gov.uk).
Not sure. I think someone needs to get into the accounts to see what's really happening.
Also I'm sure I've missed some companies - presumably there's one controlling Mass. Perhaps there's also a holding company into which profits/losses from all the bars are fed.
Plus there's the registered office use of "The Brix." Does this mean The Brix has also been Merrettised?
John Wisehammer
lifestyle trendy vicar
I notice two things:
firstly, the Living Room had to change its name to avoid clashing with some place in Leeds. Secondly, the website http://www.livingbar.co.uk/ has been hacked - when you go into the chitchat section, a couple of popups saying "fucking cunts" emerge.
<nelson>
Ha-ha!
</nelson>
firstly, the Living Room had to change its name to avoid clashing with some place in Leeds. Secondly, the website http://www.livingbar.co.uk/ has been hacked - when you go into the chitchat section, a couple of popups saying "fucking cunts" emerge.
<nelson>
Ha-ha!
</nelson>
ROFLMAO. Thank for pointing that out. That is the funniest thing I have seen in ages.
some correction Living Room/racism<>Dog Star
a lot of emotive racist accusations about the Living Room and Dog Star being hurled about here without too much checking
most of the specific accusations about racism recorded here relate to the Living Room. On Friday I was refused entry on the grounds of 'no singles', being male and white, but I was with a mate who happens to be black and male and quite big. (incidentally we had just come from the Dog Star where no problem) I have often been allowed in with upto three other single white males at the same time on a friday night > recently. One can only draw the obvious conclusions. I have also had black mates asked to remove head scarves on the grounds of 'no hats', what is that about? What I think is perfectly clear is that Lawerence is aiming 'up-market' and essentially non-Brixton.
BUT for a local thread, the lumping together of the Living Room and Dog Star seems to me really ignorant and crass
Lawerence Merritt used to run the Dog Star (and there were a lot of doubts about their door policy then) but it is several years since he regularly stepped foot on the premises (or is welcome there). Although the Dog Star is still run by the Merritt family to put it diplomatically it is a different part of the family (they can correct me if this is not near the mark) and I think the present management has clearly and consistently put on nights which are for a black young audience > viz another post re Chilli Dog night. And I would add that some nights there are probably more young black single males then any other 'demographic' section of audience.
Beyond this I think the present management of the Dog Star is taking a good stance on widening its scope and comittment in relation to entertainment, culture and community locally including recent additions of poetry, Sunday film showings and the digital night out that I have been involved with.
yours
atty
ps
I am not condoning the 'argie' email which I certainly agree was ridiclous and offensive, even if tongue in cheek > but then I find a high proportion of UK world cup coverage very similar. Conversely this is the next open_digi at Dog Star planned http://club.net-art.ws/default.asp#june
a lot of emotive racist accusations about the Living Room and Dog Star being hurled about here without too much checking
most of the specific accusations about racism recorded here relate to the Living Room. On Friday I was refused entry on the grounds of 'no singles', being male and white, but I was with a mate who happens to be black and male and quite big. (incidentally we had just come from the Dog Star where no problem) I have often been allowed in with upto three other single white males at the same time on a friday night > recently. One can only draw the obvious conclusions. I have also had black mates asked to remove head scarves on the grounds of 'no hats', what is that about? What I think is perfectly clear is that Lawerence is aiming 'up-market' and essentially non-Brixton.
BUT for a local thread, the lumping together of the Living Room and Dog Star seems to me really ignorant and crass
Lawerence Merritt used to run the Dog Star (and there were a lot of doubts about their door policy then) but it is several years since he regularly stepped foot on the premises (or is welcome there). Although the Dog Star is still run by the Merritt family to put it diplomatically it is a different part of the family (they can correct me if this is not near the mark) and I think the present management has clearly and consistently put on nights which are for a black young audience > viz another post re Chilli Dog night. And I would add that some nights there are probably more young black single males then any other 'demographic' section of audience.
Beyond this I think the present management of the Dog Star is taking a good stance on widening its scope and comittment in relation to entertainment, culture and community locally including recent additions of poetry, Sunday film showings and the digital night out that I have been involved with.
yours
atty
ps
I am not condoning the 'argie' email which I certainly agree was ridiclous and offensive, even if tongue in cheek > but then I find a high proportion of UK world cup coverage very similar. Conversely this is the next open_digi at Dog Star planned http://club.net-art.ws/default.asp#june
WATERHOUSE
New Member
Brixton Action
For all visitors/regulars to U75who wish to contact with regard to Racism @ LIVING do so @
brixtonaction@btconnect.com
where you can relay your experiences.
Persons wishing to support reply also, resources are appreciated.
N.B. Please be factual.
<Edited to add: If you click on the email above you must edit out the break in the address (you'll see, very easy) in order for it to work>
For all visitors/regulars to U75who wish to contact with regard to Racism @ LIVING do so @
brixtonaction@btconnect.com
where you can relay your experiences.
Persons wishing to support reply also, resources are appreciated.
N.B. Please be factual.
<Edited to add: If you click on the email above you must edit out the break in the address (you'll see, very easy) in order for it to work>
G
GODSMACKED
Guest
Lambeth Council: Act Now
An an ex-customer at Living Bar I've read this thread with gob-smacked amazement. This is my first and probably last post - no regular internet access - but I feel there's something important to add.
Posts on this thread accuse Living Room Leisure Ltd Director Lawrence Merrett of:
- Enforcing a racist door policy
- Enforcing a sexist door policy
- Enforcing a door policy which discriminates against Gays and Lesbians
- Brazen, repeated and on-going breaches of planning rules
- Breaking the terms of a Licensing Magistrates' Alcohol License
- Breaking the terms of a Local Authority Entertainment License
- Breaking weights and measures law on licensed premises where he may also be a company director (The Dogstar pub).
That's quite a list. What will Lawrence Merrett be accused of next? Killing a Crusty and serving him to Claphamites as a bar snack? What other allegations need to be made before the authorities act?
If the allegations are false Lawrence Merrett should reply on this thread or threaten libel action. If the allegations are true Living Bar should be closed by Lambeth Council.
These allegations, against a prominent Brixton businessman, are now in the public domain. Why has the press taken no interest in the story?
The story is journalism heaven: allegations of racism, Council planning department shenanigans, family rifts, barrel-loads of nightclub cash money flushing around, a famous area of London resisting gentrification, the spectre of civil unrest, and much of the preparatory work already done by U75 posters.
Is the UK media now so supine, trivia-obsessed and terrified of the libel laws that it finds it impossible to investigate a South London nightclub family?
Urban75 is not some fly-by-night web site run by a dimwit with an HTML manual. It's a beautifully constructed, well maintained, internationally respected internet site. It's an electronic community with a huge hit rate, a burgeoning membership and with strong local links to Brixton.
The Editor, who has twice warned posters of the defamation risks and has offered Lawrence Merrett a Right of Reply, appears regularly on my TV screen talking intelligently about issues of public concern, e.g. the Brian Paddick affair and UK drugs policy.
The Editor's (and Commander Paddick's) broad views on cannabis reform have now become government policy: re-classification is about to happen.
It follows that Lawrence Merrett is subject to very serious allegations arising from a highly respectable source whose roots run deep in the local community.
Lawrence Merrett's alleged conduct, combined with Lambeth Council's failure to act, should itself be a major news story. It's a scandal it's not a scandal.
One reason why it's essential for Lambeth Council to investigate is because since 1981 Brixton has used the political riot as a weapon against racism.
Each day that passes without public investigation by Lambeth Council of Lawrence Merrett's alleged racist, sexist, homophobic, illegal and unethical conduct increases the risk of direct action against his company. Sister companies, such as Dogstar Leisure Ltd, who may now have no link to Lawrence Merrett, could get dragged in. Innocent people could be hurt and their property destroyed.
If civil unrest occurs a portion of responsibility will rest with Lambeth Council for permitting this situation to arise.
Lawrence Merrett's alleged behaviour has clear public order implications. Lambeth Council must act immediately.
And there should be absolutely no question of Lawrence Merrett being authorised by Lambeth Council to launch further business ventures in Brixton until the allegations have been cleared up. He's acquired the premises on Coldharbour Lane previously occupied by Brixton Cycles, and plans a huge nightclub. It would be outrageous should Lambeth Council permit this to proceed while the allegations have not been investigated.
Why hasn't the Lambeth Council Chief Executive posted a response on these boards? Senior Council people are not fools and will be aware of this thread.
And why was Lawrence Merrett, at a London Borough of Lambeth Planning Committee meeting held on 23rd April 2002, given permission to enlarge Living Bar? Why haven't investigative journalists dug into this? Which Councillors took the decision, what are their precise links to Lawrence Merrett, what went on behind the scenes at Council Officer level?
Could a Moderator extend a formal invitation to the Lambeth Council Chief Executive to respond on these boards to this thread? If the Council declines the invitation, could its refusal, and the reasons for it, be posted for all to see?
Hats off to Richard Waterhouse and others for speaking out. As Richard Waterhouse says:
"Someone will challenge this behaviour and it won't be in writing as I am attempting."
Hats off to the Editor for carrying the thread. Should this site come under pressure from Merrett lawyers I hope full details will be posted here.
Has there been any pressure so far?, legal or otherwise? I notice that the link to the earlier Merrett thread no longer works (see Happy Happy Jo Wonderland's 08-05-2002 10:37 AM post above). I hope this is just a technical problem.
Here's the link again: http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/sh...ght=living+room
Finally, Lawrence Merrett runs a large security operation - doormen, bouncers, plenty of muscle. Are those who criticise his conduct at physical risk?
Should only a fraction of the allegations be true Lawrence Merrett is not "Mr Upright Citizen." Is he likely to get violent towards those who disagree with him, who question his expansionist plans or who urge a boycott of his companies? Is there a history of violence? Does Lawrence Merrett have a criminal record?
Pushing allegations against a nightclub empire can be risky. People need to know what they're getting into. If Lawrence Merrett has a criminal record let's hear about it. And let Lambeth Council investigate that too.
GODSMACKED
An an ex-customer at Living Bar I've read this thread with gob-smacked amazement. This is my first and probably last post - no regular internet access - but I feel there's something important to add.
Posts on this thread accuse Living Room Leisure Ltd Director Lawrence Merrett of:
- Enforcing a racist door policy
- Enforcing a sexist door policy
- Enforcing a door policy which discriminates against Gays and Lesbians
- Brazen, repeated and on-going breaches of planning rules
- Breaking the terms of a Licensing Magistrates' Alcohol License
- Breaking the terms of a Local Authority Entertainment License
- Breaking weights and measures law on licensed premises where he may also be a company director (The Dogstar pub).
That's quite a list. What will Lawrence Merrett be accused of next? Killing a Crusty and serving him to Claphamites as a bar snack? What other allegations need to be made before the authorities act?
If the allegations are false Lawrence Merrett should reply on this thread or threaten libel action. If the allegations are true Living Bar should be closed by Lambeth Council.
These allegations, against a prominent Brixton businessman, are now in the public domain. Why has the press taken no interest in the story?
The story is journalism heaven: allegations of racism, Council planning department shenanigans, family rifts, barrel-loads of nightclub cash money flushing around, a famous area of London resisting gentrification, the spectre of civil unrest, and much of the preparatory work already done by U75 posters.
Is the UK media now so supine, trivia-obsessed and terrified of the libel laws that it finds it impossible to investigate a South London nightclub family?
Urban75 is not some fly-by-night web site run by a dimwit with an HTML manual. It's a beautifully constructed, well maintained, internationally respected internet site. It's an electronic community with a huge hit rate, a burgeoning membership and with strong local links to Brixton.
The Editor, who has twice warned posters of the defamation risks and has offered Lawrence Merrett a Right of Reply, appears regularly on my TV screen talking intelligently about issues of public concern, e.g. the Brian Paddick affair and UK drugs policy.
The Editor's (and Commander Paddick's) broad views on cannabis reform have now become government policy: re-classification is about to happen.
It follows that Lawrence Merrett is subject to very serious allegations arising from a highly respectable source whose roots run deep in the local community.
Lawrence Merrett's alleged conduct, combined with Lambeth Council's failure to act, should itself be a major news story. It's a scandal it's not a scandal.
One reason why it's essential for Lambeth Council to investigate is because since 1981 Brixton has used the political riot as a weapon against racism.
Each day that passes without public investigation by Lambeth Council of Lawrence Merrett's alleged racist, sexist, homophobic, illegal and unethical conduct increases the risk of direct action against his company. Sister companies, such as Dogstar Leisure Ltd, who may now have no link to Lawrence Merrett, could get dragged in. Innocent people could be hurt and their property destroyed.
If civil unrest occurs a portion of responsibility will rest with Lambeth Council for permitting this situation to arise.
Lawrence Merrett's alleged behaviour has clear public order implications. Lambeth Council must act immediately.
And there should be absolutely no question of Lawrence Merrett being authorised by Lambeth Council to launch further business ventures in Brixton until the allegations have been cleared up. He's acquired the premises on Coldharbour Lane previously occupied by Brixton Cycles, and plans a huge nightclub. It would be outrageous should Lambeth Council permit this to proceed while the allegations have not been investigated.
Why hasn't the Lambeth Council Chief Executive posted a response on these boards? Senior Council people are not fools and will be aware of this thread.
And why was Lawrence Merrett, at a London Borough of Lambeth Planning Committee meeting held on 23rd April 2002, given permission to enlarge Living Bar? Why haven't investigative journalists dug into this? Which Councillors took the decision, what are their precise links to Lawrence Merrett, what went on behind the scenes at Council Officer level?
Could a Moderator extend a formal invitation to the Lambeth Council Chief Executive to respond on these boards to this thread? If the Council declines the invitation, could its refusal, and the reasons for it, be posted for all to see?
Hats off to Richard Waterhouse and others for speaking out. As Richard Waterhouse says:
"Someone will challenge this behaviour and it won't be in writing as I am attempting."
Hats off to the Editor for carrying the thread. Should this site come under pressure from Merrett lawyers I hope full details will be posted here.
Has there been any pressure so far?, legal or otherwise? I notice that the link to the earlier Merrett thread no longer works (see Happy Happy Jo Wonderland's 08-05-2002 10:37 AM post above). I hope this is just a technical problem.
Here's the link again: http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/sh...ght=living+room
Finally, Lawrence Merrett runs a large security operation - doormen, bouncers, plenty of muscle. Are those who criticise his conduct at physical risk?
Should only a fraction of the allegations be true Lawrence Merrett is not "Mr Upright Citizen." Is he likely to get violent towards those who disagree with him, who question his expansionist plans or who urge a boycott of his companies? Is there a history of violence? Does Lawrence Merrett have a criminal record?
Pushing allegations against a nightclub empire can be risky. People need to know what they're getting into. If Lawrence Merrett has a criminal record let's hear about it. And let Lambeth Council investigate that too.
GODSMACKED
What a superb post, with all the essential telling points!!!
Agreed. This may be of interest:
Email for current Labour councillor, Coldharbour ward Mr Donatus Anyanwu:
danyanwu@lambeth.gov.uk
Email him.
Email for current Labour councillor, Coldharbour ward Mr Donatus Anyanwu:
danyanwu@lambeth.gov.uk
Email him.
wildwildlifer
Rather small member
Lambeth Council: Act Now
anyone help him out with an old puter?
If anyone deserves or needs a computer and internet access more than this person, I'd be surprised.
anyone help him out with an old puter?
editor
hiraethified
LEGAL NOTICE
It is my duty as owner of these boards to warn people of the potentially adverse legal consequences of posting up defamatory material on these boards.
Bulletin boards are rarely truly anonymous and I am duty bound under current law to provide IP address and email information about posters, if requested to do so by police holding the neccesary authorisation.
While I am happy for members of the community to passionately voice their honest opinions and concerns about what is happening to Brixton, please bear in mind that you are accountable for your words.
Of course, individuals are free to answer whatever points that have been raised against them on these boards, or if they wish to send me a prepared statement, I will be happy to repost it here.
These boards are not here to be used as vindictive witch hunts against individuals and businesses, but as a means for local people to express their opinions about local issues.
Anyone posting up vindictive and inaccurate attacks on local businesses may end up on the receiving end of a law suit if the accusations prove to be unfounded.
If anyone feels that illegal or defamatory comments have been posted up about them on these boards, please contact the moderators who will try to ascertain the validity of the claim and remove the posts as soon as is practically possible, if necessary.
It may be prudent at this point to repost part of the urban75 disclaimer:
"Chat room/Bulletin boards
The views expressed in the chat room and bulletin boards are those of the individual user and not those of urban75 or its ISPs. You are asked not to post messages or emails which are abusive, racist, obscene, defamatory or the content of which is otherwise undesirable, illegal or in breach of any person's rights. We reserve the right, at our full discretion, to remove any such emails at any time and without notice to you. Bona fide requests to remove defamatory content will be honoured, although we can give no guarantee to time scale."
It is my duty as owner of these boards to warn people of the potentially adverse legal consequences of posting up defamatory material on these boards.
Bulletin boards are rarely truly anonymous and I am duty bound under current law to provide IP address and email information about posters, if requested to do so by police holding the neccesary authorisation.
While I am happy for members of the community to passionately voice their honest opinions and concerns about what is happening to Brixton, please bear in mind that you are accountable for your words.
Of course, individuals are free to answer whatever points that have been raised against them on these boards, or if they wish to send me a prepared statement, I will be happy to repost it here.
These boards are not here to be used as vindictive witch hunts against individuals and businesses, but as a means for local people to express their opinions about local issues.
Anyone posting up vindictive and inaccurate attacks on local businesses may end up on the receiving end of a law suit if the accusations prove to be unfounded.
If anyone feels that illegal or defamatory comments have been posted up about them on these boards, please contact the moderators who will try to ascertain the validity of the claim and remove the posts as soon as is practically possible, if necessary.
It may be prudent at this point to repost part of the urban75 disclaimer:
"Chat room/Bulletin boards
The views expressed in the chat room and bulletin boards are those of the individual user and not those of urban75 or its ISPs. You are asked not to post messages or emails which are abusive, racist, obscene, defamatory or the content of which is otherwise undesirable, illegal or in breach of any person's rights. We reserve the right, at our full discretion, to remove any such emails at any time and without notice to you. Bona fide requests to remove defamatory content will be honoured, although we can give no guarantee to time scale."
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