A family pub in Primrose Hill that counts Andrew Marr among its regulars was left in ruins on Sunday night after a party of 40 people descended into a mass brawl that took about 20 police officers to bring under control.

Ham & High: Some members of the rowdy party smashed chairs, tables and glasses, leaving the downstairs bar in a stateSome members of the rowdy party smashed chairs, tables and glasses, leaving the downstairs bar in a state (Image: Archant)

Management at the Princess of Wales in Chalcot Road, home to a number of well-known regulars including the BBC broadcaster and actor Tom Felton, were left facing a scene of devastation after the rowdy group of revellers smashed up its recently renovated downstairs bar.

Tables and chairs were kicked to pieces while drunken youths smashed glasses and threw bottles at other customers.

Its well-known Banksy Garden, named after a mural once thought to have been sprayed on the wall by the graffiti artist, was also said to be left peppered with urine and vomit.

As residents of the usually tranquil street were kept awake by a number of police vans outside their doors at about midnight, some drinkers emerged from the anarchy with blood running down their faces.

Petra Mitlasovszki, 25, supervisor at the pub, told the Ham&High: “It was quite scary. I’ve never met people like these before.

“Tables and chairs were broken and glasses were being smashed, all while they were smoking inside and drinking alcohol they had bought from somewhere else.

“We tried to get one of them to pay his tab but he wouldn’t and after a while, fights started breaking out between them all.

“We called the police and two officers arrived at first, but after seeing how many people they were dealing with they had to call for back-up.

“While they were waiting, I just saw a guy run past me with blood pouring down his face, being chased by three others.

“Their kids were throwing bottles at other customers as well. It was crazy.”

Another staff member added: “They were like animals: I’ve never seen anything like it.

“None of them were regulars and I don’t think they knew the area very well, so I’m pretty sure they were outsiders.

“We never have any problem with our drinkers who are always so nice, but these were very different.”

The clean-up afterwards saw the pub’s management throw out a number of broken tables and chairs, but the upmarket pub has now reopened, restored to its former state.

A spokesman from the police said: “We were called to reports of a number of people being rowdy, fighting and refusing to leave the Princess of Wales.

“Officers attended the scene. The people in the pub started to leave.

“No incidents or allegations were made to police.”