Some Funds, Little Hope --Tottenham Recovery Update

Riot relief money is getting to Tottenham High Street businesses, but some say the impact isn't enough. 

Pride of Tottenham pub owner Niche Mufwankolo claims about £4,000 in government aid has been transferred into his bank account. 



Nearly two months after the Aug. 6 episode, however, that payment hasn't dented his estimated £70,000+ in loses; "There is no difference to be honest,” he said. 

The pub and the area saw some hopeful signs last weekend; hundreds of people came by to watch Tottenham beat arch-rivals Arsenal 2-1. Mufwankolo hadn't experienced a day like it since  looters ransacked his establishment. 

"From the riots till now, that was really the very best day," he said.  "I was assisted by a lot of spurs fans who were coming here, a lot of them for the first time. It was very kind of them."

Still business, according to owners and the Haringey Council, has generally been slow throughout the area and Premier League matches do not resume for two weeks. 

Even when they do, however, Mufwankolo believes one very busy day every week (during Spurs' home matches) won't keep the Pride of Tottenham afloat.

"If I were to only open on football days, that means I’m not even doing business," he said. 

Mufwankolo and other business owners are still waiting for news about a potential break on their council tax rates, which would ease financial burdens. At a Tottenham Traders Partnership meeting last week, Haringey Councillor Alan Strickland said officials would address the issue.