Harringay online

Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

I received a flyer about a petition to object to the "pub in the park", in Finsbury Park next to the athletics track and dog training area.  It was proposed in a fairly secluded site, away from most of the residences and close to dispersal areas such as the tube station and bus stops.  I think they considered this but the design and concept is weak and the "performance/ spoken word" element was very sketchy.  On examination of the planning application: HGY/2021/0992 it has been withdrawn so well done to the local petition however it made me think whether Haringey has long term policy to manage "pimping out the park".  The park is in a woeful state already with very dry soil.  Should a policy document include climate change (water retention tanks in the ground to collect rainwater, irrigation systems for the soft landscape, solar and other energy systems to power on site services and sell off grid for example), offer up sites at events to local businesses first, offer jobs to local people first, discounted tickets to local residents, a significant portion of the profits to go into local community grants, training and services.  The leaflet seems to imply that very little of the profits went to Haringey Council so what's the point other than having a big booze up which I am more that happy to do btw, particularly after such a rotten year.  

Tags for Forum Posts: *finsbury, *outdoor, *pub, events*, in, park*, the

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There are actaully TWO cafés operating in Finsbury Park

I'm gutted this has been withdrawn. It was really looking forward to it and think it would have enhanced the area. There aren't enough outdoor venues locally. 

If there really is a shortage of drinking places, why is it that so many existing pubs are closing, and that this process has been going on for years, since well before the pandemic?

Drunkenness and alcoholism are a major problem in British society.

(Note from Site Admin: Given the foregoing, the sections of this post with extreme notes of sarcasm, which do not respect others' opinions, have been removed).

Sarcasm has been a generally accepted form of wit (admittedly "the lowest form of wit") for centuries. However, I fully appreciate that HoLAdmin is fed up to the back teeth editing comments here, and am happy to see the important points of my post are retained. Thank you, Hugh. Not just for this, but all your tireless work on HaringayOnline.

Please note, Site Admin is getting tired of admining this post. Any future posts that are expressing opinions in a way that does not respect others opinions will now simply be deleted.

How do you propose to increase the number of pubs, to replace ones that have gone out of business in recent years? If the ones that went out of business had been economically viable, they would still be pubs. Where is the increased demand from customers going to materialise? In the past pubs may well have been an integral part of our social culture, but their part has been diminishing for years, if not decades. They attract only a certain kind of customer. I agree with you that pubs such as Wetherspoons are a major cause of excessive drinking; but then, so are the supermarkets that sell multi-packs of (for example) canned lager at bargain basement prices. A lot of people now stock up on alcohol, crisps and pizza, to go home and watch the Big Match on TV. In the past they might have actually gone to their local team's games, and maybe stopped off at the pub on the way home to have a pint and chat with their mates. Social culture changes, and one of those changes is a reduction in customers for pubs. Exactly how many "well managed, responsible" pubs can you point to in Harringay? Indeed, in a society where alcohol abuse, and in some cases addiction (alcoholism), are such a big problem, is it actually "responsible" of society to make alcohol not only easily available, but to seek to increase that availability?

In reply to Al ^^^^ "Tophouse" - first time I've seen that name on HoL, did you frequent it back in the 80s? Anyway, nice one.  I'd also add the following

True Craft

The Palm

Ten to One ( once the outdoor are gets approval)

Brouhaha

Anecdotally, I read that a huge amount of pubs have converted any outdoor area to enhance their venue, for obvious reasons, but long may it continue.  Al fresco drinking is great.  Recently visited the Faltering Fullbjack after a longtime away, wow.  3 storey outdoor area, great use of a small space.

The Fountain Pub on WGR is planning outdoor tables in the forecourt once refurb done.

Some of these objections on the council submission are hilarious

"Do you really think it's appropriate for small children to be forced to play amongst drunken adults?"

"young people in particular, with schools shut, simply hang about in the park with many getting drawn into drug dealing."

"N4 have borne the full brunt [...], without a penny of compensation or Council Tax rebate."

"staggering drunks"

And most importantly, only events for older people should be allowed because "not all people have yet been vaccinated, particularly younger people that this event is likely to attract."

Glad you're off to your local - that's what it's for.

I find it strange and sad that some people apparently can't socialise or enjoy themselves in the open air without the support of alcohol.

Pubs also sell non-alcoholic options.

I feel like there’s a compromise or balance between the different needs or expectations people have of public parks- one that I don’t feel the council always gets right. 

I probably fall in to the ‘vocal minority’ category. I’m always very conscious of access to green spaces and the wider impact on climate/ the environment that big, commercial events have in such areas. 

I was *extremely* opposed to the idea of an events company holding a ticket holders only Octoberfest beer festival in my tiny local park (Down Lane Rec in Tottenham) a few years ago - application was withdrawn after a handful of us residents objected. 

My main reason for objecting was that it’s a really well-used public space - especially by people in surrounding high and medium rise flats which don’t have garden space (you see loads of kids using the playground part with their parents, as well as teenagers playing football). But maybe personally, unrealistic ideas about preserving urban green spaces in a certain way was behind this?

I don’t think an Octoberfest was an appropriate event to hold at a small, local park (I believe the event used to happen at Finsbury Park, but moved the year after there was a big fight there). But reading some of these comments, I wonder if I have a knee-jerk reaction to *any* use of Haringey parks for commercial events? 

The OP mentioned offering park spaces to local business first - this is maybe more the type of compromise that would serve everyone best. I grew up in Haringey and I remember things like the Rise Festival happening there when I was a child. They were freely open to the public and IIRC they felt more like genuine community events. 

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