Ealing Bar Owner Who 'Knocked Out' Two Customers Loses Licence

Says he believed one of the men had a weapon

The Stack Bar on Ealing Broadway. Picture: Cesar Medina

October 23, 2024

A bar in Ealing has lost its licence after the owner is alleged to have assaulted two customers outside the bar leaving them unconscious. The Stack Bar on the Mall in Ealing Broadway was found to have violated several licensing objectives at a hearing this Wednesday (23 October).

On Thursday, 19 September, two males were asked to leave the bar by Petrit Pergjergji, who at the time also acted as the designated premises supervisor (DPS). However, one of the men allegedly became aggressive and refused to leave.

The situation then escalated and Mr Pergjergji allegedly punched both males, rendering them unconscious with ‘one punch’. It is further alleged that Pergjergji then went back inside the bar, closed the shutters, and left via a fire exit, leaving the victims outside without calling the emergency services.

At an expedited licensing hearing on Friday, 27 September, Mr Pergjergji was banned from entering his own bar, until a full investigation and hearing had been conducted.

The committee heard that Mr Pergjergji believed the second man may have had a weapon, and therefore he was defending himself. When asked why he did not call the emergency services the committee were told ‘he did not realise the extent of their injuries’.

Mr Armin Solimani, legal representation for the police, said, “it is now said in these statements prepared after that hearing, he thought the second man had a concealed weapon. As I recall nothing was said about that at the last hearing. If that was true, I don’t see why that simply wasn’t bought up… you’ve seen the CCTV councillors, you know the second man was trying to de-escalate.”

He added, “It was not a moment of madness, it was not a snap decision, it was a continuing choice to leave two men seriously injured on the street because he simply didn’t care.”

Ryan Dowding, legal counsel for the premises read a witness statement to the committee which alleged one of the victims was shouting: “We will leave when we want. I’ll f****** kill you. Come outside, I’ll lay you out.”

He went on to question why one of the victims involved had not given statements to the police, when Mr Pergjergji had been assisting the investigation. He added, “one potential explanation [for why he has not given a statement] is that he knows full well he was the aggressor.”

The committee were later told the victim did not remember the assault after he was knocked unconscious as an explanation for not providing a statement to police.

Mr Pergjergji has the option to appeal the decision to Magistrates’ Court within 21 days.

Philip James Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter