Amber Knight, co-owner of the Charlotte Despard pub in Islington, was violently attacked in February after she refused to serve a man who claimed to be the “King of Archway.” The assailant bit, punched, and beat her with a stool, leaving her with severe injuries and PTSD, yet he was released without charges due to alleged missing CCTV footage. The police’s subsequent attempt to revoke the pub’s trading license was met with strong community support during a licensing hearing, ultimately saving the pub. Amber criticized the police for their handling of the case and their lack of victim support following the assault.
