THE smile was wiped off comedian Mark Thomas’s face when his local boozer put in a request to extend its drinking hours.

He is one of 70 residents in Clapham who have objected to Gigalum’s plans to open late on bank holidays and for sporting events.

The residents of Englewood Road claim their lives were made a misery by Gigalum’s predecessor – Oblivion -and don’t want to see the same again.

Mark, 43, who made his name with Channel 4 show The Mark Thomas Product, said: “Since Oblivion closed we don’t get woken up by drunks singing or shouting, the end of the road doesn’t smell of urine and we don’t have to play hopscotch with the vomit when taking the kids up the road.

“If the extensions are given to Gigalum life on the street will get more unpleasant.”

Liberal Democrat councillor for Clapham Common, Darren Sanders, said people in the area had contacted him with their fears. He said: “People are really worried that all the problems with noise and anti-social behaviour will start all over again.

“Those residents have had to put up with sick on the pavement, broken glass and rowdy drinkers for years. I would urge the council to reject this application because longer hours and more drinking will surely lead to more problems.

“Lambeth council claims to be going tough on binge drinking and antisocial behaviour so if that is the case they must make a stand against this bar’s application.”

The Oblivion Bar, in Cavendish Parade, Clapham South Side, closed eight months ago when former owner Don Murphy died.

The new owner William Campbell Jones, 33, said: “We have spent more than £30,000 on soundproofing and have employed a bouncer to stand on Englewood Road and stop people urinating down there.
“We are nothing like Oblivion.”

He added that he didn’t want to upset residents and would be happy to meet anyone who had worries about the place.

The application will be decided at a meeting of Lambeth council’s licensing committee on Tuesday.