The restaurant which hosted Rita Ora’s birthday party – Casa Cruz – has had its premises licence suspended for six weeks after a review.
Extra conditions for the restaurant have also been introduced, as well as measures to make sure CCTV is working, and banning former manager Mr Scottie Bhattarai from entering or remaining on the licensed premises.
Casa Cruz did not have its licence revoked, and there was a lot of support from local residents.
There were 44 representations from locals, with many saying the restaurant was a valuable community asset and that they felt safer with it and its doorman in the street.
Rita Ora hit the headlines in November after she had an illegal 30th birthday bash at Casa Cruz restuarant in London (Image: ritaora/Instagram)
Furthermore, some of the restaurant’s 39 staff members were local people.
There were no representations from local residents supporting Casa Cruz having its licence revoked.
In November last year, Rita held her birthday party at the Notting Hill restaurant, breaking lockdown rules with a number of friends.
The Metropolitan Police called for an investigation into the venue, and a hearing was held last week.
Casa Cruz’s licence has been suspended for six weeks, not revoked (Image: PA)
At the Kensington and Chelsea Council licensing sub-committee hearing, Rita’s party was described as one of the most “egregious and notorious” breaches of the rules.
It was heard that the singer has originally planned to have her party at a friend’s house, but plans changed quickly when paparazzi turned up at the first venue.
Charles Holland, the lawyer representing the police, slammed Rita as she “selfishly wished to flout the lockdown”.
Rita previously apologised for breaking the lockdown rules (Image: ritaora/Instagram)
He urged the council to send a “strong and clear message to the hospitality trade and the wider public” in regards to the venue’s breaching of the rules.
He added: “The incident on the night was one of the most egregious, and certainly the most notorious, breaches of the regulations committed on licensed premises.”
Representing Casa Cruz, Gary Grant claimed that there had been a “panicked phone call” from a “close associate” of Rita’s, who asked “in desperation” if her party could be held there.
Someone from Rita’s team reportedly offered £5,000 to Casa Cruz’s former manager to host the party (Image: INSTAGRAM)
According to previously released council documents, Scott Bhattarai, Casa Cruz’s general manager at the time, claimed Rita’s representative offered £5,000 for use of the restaurant – though the fee was never paid and Mr Bhattarai has since been sacked.
During the hearing, PC Ian Davis of the Met Police urged the council to take Casa Cruz’s licence away.
“These are unprecedented times, with the continued loss of life, sickness, various sacrifices and economic hardship that this country is facing,” he said.
Rita volunteered to pay a £10,000 fine for breaching the Covid-19 rules last November (Image: Rita Ora/Instagram)
“On a daily basis grim milestones are being met in relation to this pandemic.
“A clear message to the hospitality industry in their vicarious responsibilities needs to be met in relation to premises who risk operating during these national lockdowns to deter and discourage the public from organising such events as no-one is above the law and all will be held accountable.”
Rita did not make a comment during the hearing but has apologised in the past for her major oversight.
She wrote in a statement on Instagram that was was “particularly embarrassed knowing first-hand how hard people have worked to combat this terrible illness and being fully aware of the sacrifices that people and businesses have made to help keep us all safe”.
Adding: “Even though this won’t make it right, I want to sincerely apologise.”
She also offered to pay £10,000 for hosting the party.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
