Owner Patricia Bergonzi

THE owner of a famed Soho bar has accused the city council of treating her like a “criminal”.

Patricia Bergonzi has run “Trisha’s bar”, the New Evaristo Club, in Greek Street for 35 years and said plans to review her licence were “devastating”.

The club faces closure after residents complained to Westminster City Council of loud music, overcrowding and smoking in the premises.

Ms Bergonzi, 74, said: “I have been here for 35 years and I have never had any problems. I don’t understand why they’ve picked on me.” She said she was “disgusted” by a council licensing officer who, she said, had accused her of being drunk on the job.

She added: “I have Parkinson’s disease and I’ve had it for five years now. When this officer said I was drunk it was because I was shaking, it was absolutely disgusting.”

‘Trisha’s bar’ in Greek Street [Adrian Zorzut LDRS]

She also said the club has a strict no-drugs policy and bans patrons caught with any illegal substances. She said: “Most people know me and know that I’m not like that. I would murder them first rather than take drugs.”

The council said that officers visited the bar over a three-month period earlier this year and found staff continuously failed to maintain accurate records and CCTV.

The council said the licence review was brought on the grounds of prevention of crime and disorder and public safety, but a spokesperson said they would not comment on a live licensing review.

Cllr Aicha Less, deputy leader and cabinet member for communities and public protection, said: “We work closely with owners and managers of licensed premises and provide support to ensure that they are complying with their licence agreements.

“However following a council investigation and a series of complaints from residents and patrons, we have applied a review of this premise’s licence.

“A licensing sub-committee will consider the evidence and decide what action, if any, will be taken, and it would not be appropriate to comment further while the review is ongoing.”