Police look on as Tufnell pub squatters quit

[Gerrard Winstanley]

but first the good news with a very sypathetic piece in this week's
Architects Journal - Squatters claim Royal residence in Brighton
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/dailynews/2008/12/squatters_claim_regency_residence_in_brighton.html


& Great time of year to evict people eh!

Police look on as pub squatters quit

BAILIFFS have evicted squatters who turned an empty Holloway pub into
a late-night basement rave club.
The squatters, who are believed to have moved in a month ago, were
ejected from Tufnells in Tufnell Park Road on Tuesday morning.

The pub has been closed since September when the Town Hall withdrew
its licence after complaints of late-night travellers' parties,
drunken violence and "anarchy".
Those in the pub were said to have left peacefully as police stood by
to oversee the eviction. Squatters had put up notices in the pub
window, quoting the law and warning: "We live in this property, it is
our home and we intend to stay here."

Bailiffs clearing the site on Wednesday said the pub was occupied by
at least six people aged up to 50.
Tony Hoare, at the neighbouring Fiat garage, said: "They were there
for a few weeks, having rave parties at night. There were lots of
empty bottles. It was a mixture of weirdos and quite well-educated
students."
Another neighbour said: "They were being noisy every night, having
parties. They were scruffy."

A bailiff, who did not wish to be named, said: "They didn't really
trash it that bad. They took their mattresses with them when they
left. It was all very peaceful."
He added: "They put mattresses upstairs and turned the cellar into a
club. One guy had a Buddha room with joss sticks and plants and a
statue of Buddha."

picture
http://www.thecnj.co.uk/islington/2008/121908/inews121908_10.html