Fight is lost to stop boxing at Albert Hall

Residents living around the Royal Albert Hall said today they feared a decision to allow wrestling and boxing at the venue would bring "uncouth" people into the area.

They said they were worried that the Court of Appeal's ruling could lead to drunken fans causing disturbances in Consort Road, South Kensington.

Albert Court residents' association blocked a licence application by Westminster council last year after a High Court judge ruled the council had failed to comply with consultation rules.

Yesterday, that decision was overturned after the appeal court heard that letters about the proposed changes had been sent to residents.

Today, one resident, who asked not to be named, said: "It sounds like a horrible idea wrestling and boxing are activities that I don't really connect with. It's uncouth." Another resident said wrestling was seen as "not the friendliest of sports".

Norma Franklin, 77, said: "People are concerned from an alcohol point of view. Maybe a different type of person will come to the area. It sounds snobbish, but I don't mean it in a snobby way."

The Albert Hall has not hosted fights for more than a decade, although in its heyday Henry Cooper, Frank Bruno, Nigel Benn and Lennox Lewis all fought there. The appeal court judges said locals would be able to apply for a review of the licence if the sporting events led to nuisance and disorder.