Christopher Sparks with pub cat Legz

LOYAL customers have rushed to defend the manager of an Archway pub who police want removed from behind the bar.

Nearly 20 regulars at the Charlotte Despard in Archway Road say Christopher Sparks is being unfairly treated over how he handled the aftermath of a violent assault in the bar.

Officers said he was “argumentative” and “hostile” in interviews during a police investigation into a fight at the pub in ­February.

They said at one stage he broke off to sing karaoke to an empty pub during their conversations.

A review hearing at the Town Hall on Wednesday will consider the police request for tighter licensing conditions and a new landlord.

Mr Sparks has been in charge for 15 years and speaking to the Tribune this week alongside co-manager Amber Knight said there was a very different side to the story.

They said it was a community pub with no history of trouble.

Ms Knight said: “They have completely character assassinated Chris. Chris is my friend and my business partner, and he infuriates me a lot of the time, but he’s a good man.”

The issues began after the incident in February, when a man came in at closing time and allegedly attacked staff, leading to a chaotic brawl on a sofa where Ms Knight was punched in the face, and hit around the head with a bar stool. She suffered concussion and PTSD.

Police officers recorded 18 injuries in total, including bite marks.

Two customers were involved in the melee along with Mr Sparks and Ms Knight.

During the ensuing police investigation, officers found that a “crucial” six minutes of CCTV footage that would have shown how the fight started was “missing, lost, or deleted”.

In a statement, PC Nathan Poole wrote: “I have real concerns this footage may have been tampered with and they are keeping key evidence from ourselves.”

Mr Sparks and Ms Knight told the Tribune they can’t explain how the footage went missing but they “absolutely, categorically” did not delete it.

The suspect – the man who came into the bar – was later released without charge.

The Charlotte Despard

As well as the question mark over the missing footage, police say Mr Sparks had “significant resistance” to discussing updates to the pub’s licence following the attack.

In a statement about a meeting with Mr Sparks in July, Sergeant Neil Fraser said: “I felt that he had the potential to lose control of his temper at any moment.

“Mr Sparks did allow me a brief period of time to explain the need for additional [licensing] conditions, but then broke away from the conversation in order to sing karaoke. Given that there were only the two of us in the premises I found this hugely odd behaviour.”

Mr Sparks, who is neurodivergent, said the police have misunderstood his character adding that he only took a karaoke break because the officer was taking too long to get to his point.

“I was rehearsing for a birthday party the following day. It was Daydreamin’ by Lupe Fiasco which was on play when he arrived,” said Mr Sparks, adding: “Ask any of my customers if I would randomly sing karaoke, and they will say yes. I’m a personality. I’m an eccentric human being – I warn [the police] of this every time I meet with them. All of my customers know how to handle me.”

Pointing to the pub’s three-legged cat, he said: “Legz is a disabled cat. I’ve got no teeth. I can sing Shirley Bassey. I’m not the normal package, but I haven’t done anything wrong.”

Customers – who include doctors at the nearby Whittington – also defended Mr Sparks in letters submitted to the council, saying the publicans are people “of the very highest honesty and integrity” who “go above and beyond for their patrons”.

They said the pub is a safe, family friendly community hub for making friends and hosting birthdays, weddings, karaoke nights and Eurovision watch parties.

One person wrote that the loss or restriction of the Charlotte Despard “would be an act of ignorant, heinous, closed-minded barbarism”.

The pub reduced its operating hours last year, and Ms Knight has already taken over as the formal licence holder.

“Every pub I’ve ever had I’ve run it in such a way that my mother, who is not a pub goer and not a drinker, would be perfectly fine to go and sit there,” said Ms Knight this week.

“So that’s why I don’t recognise their characterisation of us, because it’s the entire opposite.”

The Met were contacted for further comment with no response.