Ex-minister David Mellor caught in f-word rant over rowdy bar's naked dancers

A bar owner called police after being threatened by former Tory Cabinet minister David Mellor in a long-running dispute over noise.

Randy Kalsi said he also believed Mr Mellor would use his influence to shut his bar, the River Lounge, in St Katharine's Dock near Tower Bridge.

Mr Mellor, who lives next door, was secretly taped abusing two of Mr Kalsi's staff in a foul-mouthed rant. The bar had its licence revoked by Tower Hamlets council last year but a compromise deal was struck at Stratford magistrates' court this week allowing it to remain open.

Official minutes of a council hearing last October record Mr Kalsi's solicitor, David Dodds, telling the licensing committee: "There had been an incident where [Mr Kalsi] had felt threatened by Mr Mellor and had to call the police and it was felt that... a clear assertion had been made by Mr Mellor that the premises would be closed down."

A spokesman for Mr Mellor said today police arrived but took no action.

He said he and his partner, Penelope, Viscountess Cobham, had endured months of misery when the bar hosted wild events, including a "sex party", during which naked dancing girls were said to have been visible from Mr Mellor's property. Mr Mellor, 61, complained to the council about noise.

In one row, he was reportedly recorded on an iPhone calling chef Stephane Ale a "fat b*****d".

He also allegedly called bar manager Edmond Mitraj a "f**king a**hole".

The Kalsi family agreed as part of the compromise to close off some of the bar's balconies at 7pm to reduce disturbance. Mr Mellor said: "I am prepared to let bygones be bygones."