Haringey denies council officials to blame for closure of Street Feast's Hawker Union

The leader of Haringey Council has denied accusations that "difficult" council officials are to blame for the closure of Street Feast's Hawker Union site in Wood Green.

Hawker Union, which boasted six street food traders and five bars as well as trampolines, pool tables and big screens, closed this weekend, after just 12 weeks of trade.

Street Feast founder Jonathan Downey announced the closure earlier this month, stating "In 21yrs of opening over 35 venues in five countries, I've never had to close a site like this". He added the company, which operated the site under temporary licences, had invested £450,000 into the site."

Before having to cease operations, Downey had told The Caterer that the council had "tried everything they can to stop us from getting licensing, planning permission, and building control sign off".

But following a vocal response on social media from Street Feast fans, Haringey Council's Labour leader Joseph Ejiofor denied the charge - claiming in a statement the council were "very keen for Hawker Union to be a success in Haringey".

He added: "The suggestion that the actions of the Council have meant that Hawker Union has had to close is completely false.

"The reality is that Street Feast have failed to meet statutory building regulations on their site. Their building regulations application was submitted after works had already begun and there were a number of concerns with the project.

"Although some of these concerns have been rectified, others have yet to be addressed. We have been clear and consistent about our expectations with Hawker Union throughout the planning, licensing and building regulations process.

"Street Feast's management team have been provided with a clear list of steps to ensure compliance with the regulations but have failed to act on this advice."

Hawker Union, in the former Olympia Industrial Estate, was London Union's sixth site in the capital.

London Union's other Street Feast venues include Hawker House in Canada Water, Model Market in Lewisham, Dinerama in Shoreditch, Giant Robot in Canary Wharf and Public in Woolwich.

Closure of Street Feast's Hawker Union confirmed as council branded ‘deliberately difficult'>>

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