Rita Ora’s reps ‘offered £5,000 to open Casa Cruz bar’ for singer’s 30th birthday party

Locals have begged the council not to revoke the Notting Hill bar’s licence, with some saying ‘it’s a treat’ to go there

CCTV cameras at the Notting Hill restaurant where Rita Ora held her 30th birthday party during lockdown were turned off to avoid filming the arrival of celebrity guests such as Cara Delevingne, police have said.

Pop star Ora apologised for the “spur of the moment” decision to throw a celebration, which took place on November 28 last year in breach of Covid rules during England’s second national lockdown.

In a report, police said CCTV cameras at Casa Cruz were switched off on the day of the party at the request of security working the event.

Two officers had arrived at the venue at 11.30pm after reports of loud music blasting and found the windows blacked out, the report says. 

Peeping through a gap, the officers said they could see maskless women sitting down with glasses, as well as a man behind the bar.

They then knocked on the windows, prompting the group to switch off the music. But they did not respond and instead retreated into a back room.

In his statement, PC James Larner said he believed that the music stopping and the occupants apparently leaving meant “it was likely that Covid regulations were being knowingly breached as the occupants did not wish to engage with officers”.

Police are trying to get the venue’s licence revoked ahead of a hearing of Kensington and Chelsea’s licensing sub-committee on Thursday. 

Rita Ora invited Cara and Poppy Delevingne, her sister Elena and Towie star Vas Morgan. 
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Scottie Bhattarai, a worker at the venue at the time of the party, also gave a statement to a council officer and police on December 1 and said he had allowed the restaurant to be used.

He said representatives of Ora called him on his personal mobile phone at about 5.30pm on the day of the party and told him they wanted to use the venue for “drinks and nibbles”.

Bhattarai said the representatives offered £5,000 and that most staff were on furlough so he went to Casa Cruz to “facilitate the event,” apologising for being “greedy,” according to his witness statement.

The group arrived at 7pm with seven or eight guests, he said, though by 9pm there were about 17 people, he told police.

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Other guests included Poppy Delevingne, Ora’s sister Elena and Towie star Vas Morgan. 

Bhattarai told police “security for the entourage” wanted no footage of them arriving so he turned the CCTV off between 6pm and 6.30pm.

Bhattarai later said the camera system had been faulty and scheduled for repair. No payment had been taken in relation to the event at the time of his statement, he said.

The CCTV hard drives were reformatted on November 30, police said, and no footage was available for the previous month.

Bhattarai did not disclose details of the party organiser to police, according to the report.

Apologising at the time, Ora said: “I feel particularly embarrassed knowing first-hand how hard people have worked to combat this terrible illness and being fully aware of the sacrifices that people and businesses have made to help keep us all safe.

“Even though this won’t make it right, I want to sincerely apologise.”

Local residents begged the committee to not revoke Casa Cruz’s licence, with some saying “it’s a treat” to go there.

One resident said: "I believe their licence is under review due to a one-off significant lapse in judgement. 

"If this establishment was causing a significant, frequent issue for neighbours then it requires censure, but a one-off lapse of judgement in exceptional times deserves a conversation over closure. It’s a well-loved restaurant, with charming staff. 

“Caza Cruz regularly donate evenings at their venue to support local fundraising efforts for schools and charities and should be forgiven for a very well publicised mistake.”

Downing Street stressed that coronavirus rules also apply to celebrities, following news of Ora’s birthday party, as well as comments from actor Laurence Fox, who boasted of having a “large group over to lunch”.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It’s important that everybody in society sets an example by following the rules – that is for every member of the public including celebrities.”

A representative for Ora has been contacted for comment.

Additional reporting by PA Media

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