|
In the November 2005
issue of Call Sign, John Fisher (C45) wrote
of the problem outside Nobu in Berkeley Street, Mayfair.
He said he had taken registration numbers of touts operating
outside – apparently doing so with the backing of the "bouncers"
outside and staff inside. John said that the cars even had an
unofficial rank and that when he tried to stop outside, the
Concierge told him he was causing an obstruction and should move
off! John challenged Nobu to call the police and not
unsurprisingly, they rejected the offer! Instead, the touts
threw snide comments at both John and another Dial-a-Cab driver
that was also there. Call Sign passed the details over to Sgt Dave Hillson of the Cab Enforcement Section of TOCU and a raid was later made when several minicab drivers were arrested. We also spoke to Alan Matthews, who at the time was Head of Projects and Developments at the PCO. He wrote to the owners of the vehicles concerned, asking them to respond to John Fisher’s allegations. We heard no more after that. Now over three years later, DaC driver Natalia Shalom (A34) tells Call Sign that nothing has changed at Nobu! However, this time things could be even worse. |
Natalia: Why don’t Nobu want us? Then comes the answer – of course they do! |
|
 Natalia thinks a rank outside Nobu would work while boyfriend Daniel proves it could! |
that taxis weren’t needed as
they had their own car service! As a night driver, Natalia told us that most passengers coming out of these establishments would prefer a taxi, but are not given the chance. "These minicabs will keep coming back," said Natalia. "The best way to fight them is by putting a taxi rank outside the door, then passengers would have a choice - and I know who most would choose!" Then on April 20, that choice arrived – albeit unofficially. Daniel was outside Nobu and told a DaC dispatcher that the restaurant was saying real taxis weren’t needed as they used minicabs! That was enough for most Dial-a-Cab drivers that read the message and they flooded into Berkely Street like the Cavalry, with their for hire signs lighting up the street and stopping minicabs pulling up outside! Minicabs had to be moved on much to the obvious distress of the DaC drivers who tried not to smile! The DaC exercise answered the question as to whether we are wanted at Nobu or not. Well done Daniel and Natalie. And are you reading this at the PCO? We need a rank at Nobu… |
|
|
Natalia may be
female and very young at 23, but she doesn’t allow anyone to
walk over her. In fact, Natalia even asked Call Sign
to volunteer her as a decoy for the tout squad – an offer that
the police considered being too dangerous! Recently Natalia, who works nights, dropped a passenger outside Nobu and decided to dwell in case someone came out looking for a taxi. However, she told Call Sign that there were so many minicabs outside that the only way she could stop was by double-parking. Her boyfriend, and also a DaC driver, Daniel Woodhouse (K84), joined her. Within minutes, she was told by Nobu staff to move on as she was causing an obstruction. Natalia and Daniel both refused. Whilst the staff were not rude at first, their attitude changed and became more threatening. Natalia was then told |
||
 |
Powered by NetXPosure |
| Copyright 1997-2009 Dial-A-Cab Ltd, All rights reserved. |