Five people will appear in court charged with failing to shut down an “illegal bar”.

Hackney Council has escalated a dispute with U7 Lounge in Orsman Road, claiming it has breached two planning enforcement notices.

Three organisations – Basin Properties Limited, Investment Limited and Orsman Properties LLP – are named in court documents relating to the alleged offences.

A hearing is scheduled to take place at Thames Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning (July 23).

Owners Haci Ozturk, of Orsman Road in Hackney, Joseph Peter Gerrard and Michael Gerrard, both of Eade Road in Harringay, are due to appear in court.

The two other men named in court documents are Hande Sezgin and Ismail Tezgel, both also of Orsman Road, Hackney.

All of the men are charged with failing to stop U7 Lounge being used as a drinking place and restaurant between March 2020 and May 2023.

They are also accused of not ending the use of the car park and land to the rear of U7 Lounge as a drinking place between July 2022 and May 2023.

In a final charge, they are said to have failed to stop the canalside and car park at the back of U7 Lounge being used as a drinking place in April 2024.