A DECISION to stop African beer being sold at a troubled pub has been branded as racist - by its former manager.

Marshall Maphosa, who formerly ran Lincolns in Leytonstone High Road, said Trust Inn Ltd’s decision to stop selling the African beer Tusker implied they were trying to isolate the African community which frequented the pub before it was closed down by the council following complaints of crime and noise by neighbours.

Mr Maphosa, 43, said: “This is what we have been saying for ages and now it has come out in the wash that they don’t like black people going there. In some ways we are vindicated.

“It is a racial issue because it was an African bar frequented by residents.

“This has been pushed through by councillors and I am really annoyed and angry.”

Former customer Dennis Hedd-Williams, 34, said: “A lot of people are disappointed by how we have been treated.

"I feel Lincolns was picked on.”

At an appeal hearing last week, the council agreed to 19 new conditions of the licence held by Trust Inn Ltd, including an agreement that the pub remain closed until September 30, during which time it will be refurbished and re-branded.

The conditions were drafted and agreed by the brewery, council, police and Ferndale Area Residents’ Associaton (FARA) with a view to re-position it to a more traditional pub providing food and “a softer ambience and offering quality real ales”.

Other conditions include installing CCTV, keeping a “report register” of anti -social behaviour, litter collections after closing time and banning patrons from drinking alcohol outside the building after 9pm.

FARA member Flash Bristow disputes the racism claims and insists the conditions were made to change the pub from a niche pub to one that is more “inclusive” to local residents.

She said: “The problem has arisen because of it has catered for one sector of the community so specialised that it attracted people from as far as Brixton who have caused anti-social behaviour and left the area.

"They don’t care because they don’t live here. “We have used racism used as an excuse by people who run the pub badly. But it is about being a local pub for local people, regardless of ethnicity.”

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Trust Inns Ltd declined to comment and the Guardian is awaiting a response from the council.