John Singleton cafe brawl: Police fine businessman $550 for public drunkenness after legendary lunch
The Bells Hotel manager leapt to the defence of the 73-year-old tycoon, who was hit with a $500 fine for his public display of drunkenness as he released the bill to show what was ordered.
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The Bells Hotel manager who continued serving John Singleton beers after his very long lunch at the nearby Kingsleys Steak and Crabhouse has broken his silence, claiming the advertising legend was “good as gold” and not visibly drunk.
Danny Miles, whose family has run the famous Woolloomooloo pub since 1973, told The Daily Telegraph he had no idea of Singo’s antics on the Finger Wharf minutes before he was carried towards the pub by musician Jon Stevens and ex-NFL player Col Scotts to continue a marathon drinking session.
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Police are investigating both the Bells and Kingsleys for potential breaches of liquor laws and yesterday slapped 73-year-old Singleton with a $550 fine for his public display of drunkenness that included threatening friend of 40 years and Fairfax director Jack Cowin with a broken wine glass.
Their lunch bill, however, suggests neither (rose or beer) made it onto the table.
“He behaved himself, he didn’t seem that drunk, he was good as gold,” Mr Miles said yesterday.
“He was just sitting there ... I didn’t know what happened (at Kingsleys). Now I’m taking all the blame for it.
“It should have happened (on Tuesday) when the budget was on and it wouldn’t have made the front page.”
Mr Miles’ own brother tragically died at the Bells Hotel after he was hit over the back of a head with a stool during a drunken bar fight in 2004.
A contrite Mr Singleton yesterday sent a bunch of flowers in a Roses Only box to Kingsleys, addressed to the manager forced to step in and break up the fracas, in a sign of apology on behalf of him and his dining party.
Friend and 2GB employee Ben Fordham tweeted a copy of the bill from the infamous lunch, revealing Jon Stevens forked out $840.20 for the meal. It included $385.00 worth of booze — made up of four bottles and three glasses of sauvignon blanc.
“It has caused quite a stir,” said Mr Miles, adding police had visited his pub to grill him about Monday evening.
“They were in here, they asked a few questions, took the CCTV and they’ll be back.”
Under NSW laws, venues face fines up to $11,000 and sanctions, such as being forced to serve alcohol in plastic, for liquor breaches.
The Daily Telegraph sat at the bar with Mr Singleton and Mr Scotts for a beer on Monday as he recounted his colourful version of events.
He joked that the headline on the story should have been: “Billionaire (Cowin) attacks homeless bloke (himself).”
At the time he said a friendly tussle broke out between the two friends when he opted to order a bottle of rose instead of beer.
Their lunch bill, however, suggests neither variety of alcohol made it onto the table.
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