Save The Refreshment Room from closure

The Issue

Local community venue, The Refreshment Room in Stratford, East London was recently served papers by Newham licensing to review and to revoke their licence over a racial aggravated assault against the bar owner.

The aggressor in this isolated incident was a fast food delivery rider who refused to wear a mask when entering the venue. He also refused to go to the foyer to call the customer he was delivering food for. He was then removed to the foyer where he became racially abusive so was removed completely off the premises. He then continued with the racial abuse and threats and eventually assaulted the bar owner who had to defend himself. A man who is much older than the aggressor and who has had multiple operations and who is clinically vulnerable.

We are a black owned business that has operated in the area for over 20 years and we pride ourselves on making a safe space for the community, in particular as it is in Stratford town centre an area that has been neglected since the inception of the Westfield shopping centre.


We constantly strive to be diverse and innovative in our approach. We often run POC-led, female/womxn, LGBTQIA+ events with genuine care and authenticity and are the only venue in the immediate area to be spear heading these types of events.

Many of our regular custom comes from civil servants, NHS staff and the police from the borough and beyond of which we see many as our friends. We have also worked with the council on a number of events.

We believe that this is an ill thought out decision and extremely politically-charged and with the help of our lovely customers, friends, family and the general public that sees the injustice at hand, we can together stop this from happening and continue to operate.

With love and respect from all at The Refreshment Room

avatar of the starter
The Refreshment RoomPetition Starter
This petition had 493 supporters

The Issue

Local community venue, The Refreshment Room in Stratford, East London was recently served papers by Newham licensing to review and to revoke their licence over a racial aggravated assault against the bar owner.

The aggressor in this isolated incident was a fast food delivery rider who refused to wear a mask when entering the venue. He also refused to go to the foyer to call the customer he was delivering food for. He was then removed to the foyer where he became racially abusive so was removed completely off the premises. He then continued with the racial abuse and threats and eventually assaulted the bar owner who had to defend himself. A man who is much older than the aggressor and who has had multiple operations and who is clinically vulnerable.

We are a black owned business that has operated in the area for over 20 years and we pride ourselves on making a safe space for the community, in particular as it is in Stratford town centre an area that has been neglected since the inception of the Westfield shopping centre.


We constantly strive to be diverse and innovative in our approach. We often run POC-led, female/womxn, LGBTQIA+ events with genuine care and authenticity and are the only venue in the immediate area to be spear heading these types of events.

Many of our regular custom comes from civil servants, NHS staff and the police from the borough and beyond of which we see many as our friends. We have also worked with the council on a number of events.

We believe that this is an ill thought out decision and extremely politically-charged and with the help of our lovely customers, friends, family and the general public that sees the injustice at hand, we can together stop this from happening and continue to operate.

With love and respect from all at The Refreshment Room

avatar of the starter
The Refreshment RoomPetition Starter

The Decision Makers

Petition Updates

Share this petition

Petition created on 14 July 2021