It's a stinker! Exclusive 5 star London hotel favoured by Richard Madden and Alesha Dixon is forced to pump out raw SEWAGE from its drains due to design flaw in trendy hotspot
- London's luxury five star hotel The Curtain opened with much fanfare in 2017
- Celebrities such as Richard Madden, Alesha Dixon and Jack Whitehall attended
- A design flaw has led to repeated call outs for the drains to be pumped out
- Now locals are complaining about the stench and hotel has suffered
A luxury London hotel favoured by stars including Richard Madden and Alesha Dixon has been accused of turning the area into a 'cesspool' after being forced to repeatedly pump out raw sewage from their broken drains.
The Curtain in Shoreditch has struggled with a design flaw in its sewage system tankers since it opened with much fanfare in 2017.
Celebrities flocked to the launch party where rapper Sketpa performed and Madden was joined by Jack Whitehall, Ellie Bamber and Thom Evans.
But the five star hotel has been beset by problems with its drains which are now causing neighbours and local businesses to complain.
Some locals say they are struggling to breathe because of the foul odour.
![The Curtain, a luxury London hotel favoured by stars including Richard Madden (left, with Gemma Chan and Douglas Booth) and Alesha Dixon, has been accused of turning the area into a 'cesspool' after being forced to repeatedly pump out raw sewage from their broken drains](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/14/14738882-7137673-image-m-27_1560432759216.jpg)
The Curtain, a luxury London hotel favoured by stars including Richard Madden (left, with Gemma Chan and Douglas Booth) and Alesha Dixon, has been accused of turning the area into a 'cesspool' after being forced to repeatedly pump out raw sewage from their broken drains
![The five star hotel has been beset by problems with its drains (above) which are now causing neighbours and local businesses to complain. Some locals say they are struggling to breathe because of the foul odour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/14/14744154-7137673-The_five_star_hotel_has_been_beset_by_problems_with_its_drains_a-m-33_1560433324060.jpg)
The five star hotel has been beset by problems with its drains (above) which are now causing neighbours and local businesses to complain. Some locals say they are struggling to breathe because of the foul odour
![The Curtain, in Shoreditch, has struggled with a design flaw in its sewage system tankers since it opened with much fanfare in 2017](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/14/14738866-0-image-m-5_1560431420971.jpg)
The Curtain, in Shoreditch, has struggled with a design flaw in its sewage system tankers since it opened with much fanfare in 2017
Tankers have been parked up in Christina Street behind the hotel nine times, for up to three days at a time, sucking out months' worth of sewage that does not drain properly into the mains.
Film maker Maziar Bahari, whose studio backs onto where the tankers park up, claims he has lost clients as a result of having to cancel meetings.
He said: 'I have a film and TV production company. I have had meetings in my office cancelled because of the smell and lost clients as a result.
'The Curtain uses industrial air purifiers in their own building to minimise the impact on their own staff and guests, but they don't use that to minimise the smell on Christina Street.
'The Curtain claims that the sewage problem is an emergency, but this isn't the case. The problem is caused by a design flaw that has not been rectified.
'We have contacted The Curtain to request that they use industrial blowers and an odour masking system to minimise interruption and harm to our businesses. They have refused. '
One local said not only did the sewage smell bad but was potentially hazardous to health.
'There is a strong smell of sewage for the entire day which is not only deeply unpleasant, but takes a physical toll too,' they said.
'Raw sewage contains hydrogen sulfide – a by-product of decaying matter – and to be exposed to this toxic gas can be detrimental to health.
'It is unacceptable for us to be expected to breathe this contaminated air in.'
![Celebrities flocked to the launch party where rapper Sketpa performed and Madden and Dixon (above) were joined by Jack Whitehall, Ellie Bamber and Thom Evans](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/14/14738906-0-image-a-7_1560431560782.jpg)
Celebrities flocked to the launch party where rapper Sketpa performed and Madden and Dixon (above) were joined by Jack Whitehall, Ellie Bamber and Thom Evans
![Tankers have been parked up in Christina Street behind the hotel nine times, for up to three days at a time, sucking out months' worth of sewage that does not drain properly into the mains. Pictured: Thom Evans and btoerh Max at the hotel launch](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/14/14738874-7137673-Tankers_have_been_parked_up_in_Christina_Street_behind_the_hotel-m-29_1560432948636.jpg)
Tankers have been parked up in Christina Street behind the hotel nine times, for up to three days at a time, sucking out months' worth of sewage that does not drain properly into the mains. Pictured: Thom Evans and btoerh Max at the hotel launch
![Film maker Maziar Bahari, whose studio backs onto where the tankers park up, claims he has lost clients as a result of having to cancel meetings. Ella Eyre, Laura Doggett and Ellie Bamber (above) at the launch of The Curtain](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/14/14738880-7137673-Film_maker_Maziar_Bahari_whose_studio_backs_onto_where_the_tanke-m-31_1560433009771.jpg)
Film maker Maziar Bahari, whose studio backs onto where the tankers park up, claims he has lost clients as a result of having to cancel meetings. Ella Eyre, Laura Doggett and Ellie Bamber (above) at the launch of The Curtain
Michael Achenbaum – who owns The Curtain and opened the first luxury hotel in New York's meatpacking district – complained to one disgruntled neighbour the problem was 'dramatically affecting his operations' and damaging to his own hotel guests and club members, too'.
In an email he wrote: 'While we appreciate your frustration, it would be amazing if you would attempt to show some empathy to a difficult situation both taxing on us mentally and financially.'
In a statement the hotel apologised for the disruption.
A spokesman said the problem was caused by errors in the original installation of the drainage pits but added that the works currently being carried out should fix the problem permanently.
'The issue has been caused by errors in the original installation of the drainage pits,' he said.
'It is regrettable that the defect is not a simple fix, and a result of the issue is the need to pump the pits intermittently – however once rectified this will no longer be necessary.
'The smells are unpleasant but there is no danger to public health.
![Michael Achenbaum ¿ who owns The Curtain and opened the first luxury hotel in New York's meatpacking district ¿ told a neighbour the problem was 'dramatically affecting his operations' and damaging to his own hotel guests and club members, too'.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/14/14738850-0-image-m-10_1560432282361.jpg)
Michael Achenbaum – who owns The Curtain and opened the first luxury hotel in New York's meatpacking district – told a neighbour the problem was 'dramatically affecting his operations' and damaging to his own hotel guests and club members, too'.
'We have worked closely with our neighbours, informing them of the disruption, and we are trying to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, we are sorry for any disruption caused.'
A Hackney Council spokeswoman added: 'We have recommended a number of measures to reduce odour and noise and will continue to monitor this.
'If we are not satisfied that the problem is being resolved, we will explore our legal powers until the Environmental Protection Act.'
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