Man charged over Hoxton pub poisoning

A man is due to appear in court this week accused of poisoning one adult and two young children at the Red Lion Pub in Hoxton Square.

Hackney police were called to an east London hospital on October 10 following the �admission of two children suspected to have ingested drugs contained in food consumed at the pub, according to local reports.

They were released from hospital but management at the pub closed the venue.

Neil Irons, 32, of Haberdasher Street, Hoxton, will appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Friday December 23 charged with three counts of poisoning.

A spokeswoman for the pub said: “The owners of the Red Lion were extremely shocked and concerned to hear about the incident, and dealt with the matter as quickly as possible by shutting down the venue down straight away, and carrying out an internal and external investigation.”

The pub and restaurant have now reopened.