Pubs hit by Tottenham riots

A licensee in Tottenham believes he stands to lose at least £5,000 after a group of youths involved in Saturday's riots vandalised and stole from his pub.

Clifford Pope, who owns the Two Brewers, on Scotland Green, admitted he was shocked by events but vowed to "get on with it" and hopes to re-open on Thursday in time for the new Premier League season.

Pope told the Publican's Morning Advertiser: "It is senseless to be honest, especially the vandalism. If you are going in there to steal then you are thieves but I don't understand those who just want to brainlessly smash things up."

Pope explained how the rioters kicked down the door of the pub before taking the tills, charity boxes, televisions and all the alcohol they could find apart from the kegs in the cellar. They also tore down pipes and smashed the only television that they couldn't remove from the wall.

"I think it is going to cost me £5,000 at the very minimum," said Pope.

"The pub is very quiet when there is no football on and doesn't really take that much in a month, but what can you do?"

Asked whether pubs in Tottenham are now going to have to be exrtra vigilant, Pope said: 'There is going to have to be a lot more security but Saturday was an exceptional night and the police were caught unaware and can't be everywhere at once."

Another licensee told the Publican's Morning Advertiser it is "business as usual" following the riots that hit north London at the weekend.

Kenny Monteith, of the Bricklayers Arms, on Tottenham's High Road where the majority of Saturday's violence took place, said it had "come at the worst possible time" with the new Premiership season less than a week away.

"We were quite lucky as we were quite vigilant and just had some windows smashed," said Monteith.

He added: "It was very scary and even last night we stayed up quite late as tensions were still high.

"But we are open at the moment and will do our damnest to fight back. This is the time of the year when there is a real buzz about High Road and everyone is putting their final preparations together for the new season."

The Pride of Tottenham pub, on High Road, also had its windows smashed during Saturday's riots.