‘Poking starts from 10’: Tattoo promotion prompts warning to zero rated Stokey Bears

By Hackney Citizen | Tuesday 7 February 2017 at 12:24
"F****** who should get their “f****** facts straight": Tom Reaney today lashed out at the media

“F****** who should get their “f****** facts straight”: Tom Reaney today lashed out at the media

The owner of burger joint Stokey Bears, which has a zero rating for food hygiene, has denied offering unlicensed tattooing at his restaurant after Hackney Council warned him that if he went ahead with an event planned for tonight he could face prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500.

Confronted by the Hackney Citizen, Tom Reaney, who turns 32 today, said: “We aren’t tattooing people… Obviously we aren’t tattooing people in a restaurant. That would be silly.”

In a furious outburst, the hipster outlet operator today lashed out, branding critics “f******” who should get their “f****** facts straight”.

Reaney – who is known for his expletive-laden Donald Trump-style moans on social media – found himself under fire last year following reports he owed crowdfunders thousands of pounds in free food.

At the time he called people complaining about this “f****** jokers”.

Prior to today, Reaney had appeared to suggest people would be getting ink done at his eatery in the early hours to celebrate his birthday.

In a Facebook post he declared: “Come get a hand poked tattoo after hours @stokebears on Feb 7th. My birthday, negronis, white russians, burgers, tattoos…”

On social media on Saturday tattoo artist Tha Roofer proclaimed: “Less than a week to go until @burgerbeartom’s birthday and @stokeybears #handpoked #flash #tattoo night on Tuesday the 7th Feb. Poking starts from 10. Drinking and eating starts before then!”

A post from tattoo artist Tha Roofer

A post from tattoo artist Tha Roofer

Holding a tattooing event in a restaurant could have potential hygiene implications. Stokey Bears already has a zero rating for hygiene from the Food Standards Agency.

In a recent Twitter exchange, the business replied “Yawn!” to a potential customer who asked what was being done to improve matters.

Tattooists are supposed to confirm consent and details about people’s medical history. It is unclear whether this could have been done properly in a venue where alcohol is consumed.

The Local Government Association (LGA) last year called for tougher sentences for illegal tattooists – an increasing problem, according to the LGA, with some working in unsterilised studios.

Reaney confirmed representatives from the council had “popped in” to see him last night to have a word with him about the event – but he insisted they had got the “wrong end of the stick”.

He said Tha Roofer was “just a local artist getting him and his work out there by showcasing work to our community”, adding: “It’s just a flash sale of artwork and hopefully he’ll get some bookings.”

Reaney, whose business’s accounts are overdue according to records at Companies House, also has burger pop ups in Peckham and Old Street and is hoping to open up a second eatery in Stoke Newington.

He said the Hackney Citizen had “grassed us to the feds” and instructed followers to “boycot [sic]” this newspaper.

In a bizarre series of tweets from his personal account he also accused journalists of “manipulating facts to create stories to benefit your own business” and asked the US President to accede to his request to add the Hackney Citizen to his list of “fake news”.

A spokesperson for Hackney Council confirmed a warning would be sent to the business in cases where unlicensed tattooing was suspected.

They added: “If convicted, the person responsible for the management of the premises would be liable to a fine of up to £2,500… We would consider prosecution if a business is operating an illegal tattooing event as unlicensed tattooing can pose a serious risk to people’s health.”

Hand poked, or stick and poke, tattoos, which were popularised in prisons, are done using a stand alone needle rather than a mechanical gun.

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