Amy Winehouse fans flock to Camden after biopic release - despite mixed reviews | SWNS

Amy Winehouse fans are flocking to visit the star's favourite haunts following the release of a new biopic - despite mixed reviews.
The late singer is heavily associated with the London borough of Camden, which also served as a backdrop to many scenes in the recently released 'Back to Black'.
The film has come in for criticism, with some claiming it goes too easy on Winehouse's dad Mitch and her ex-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil.
Fans revealed on Wednesday they had travelled from all over to visit Camden - with one couple having journeyed more than 700 miles from Barcelona.
Scarlet Elias, 43, came from the Spanish city with her partner Albert to see a statue of the singer - but says she refuses to watch the film.
She said: “We are huge fans. I am always looking for places with Amy Winehouse.
“I haven’t seen it because of the way it shows her father. I don’t think he treated her right. The film shouldn’t have been made in this way. It is too focused on her relationship with Blake.
“She was a good singer; it shouldn’t be about all the drugs she did.”
The bronze statue, created by Scott Eaton, was unveiled in Stables Market in 2014, three years after the singer's death.
Ayoub Achkah, 24, works serving beer next to the statue and says Winehouse brings in lots of customers.
He said: “Everyone everyday poses with that statue. People are always asking us where the statue is even though it is right in front of them.
“It brings a lot of people here for sure. They come here for the statue and end up having a beer.
“Amy Winehouse is Camden. She brought it to where it is now. It is a small statue but it is the symbol of Camden.”
Similar beliefs were held by fans who had flocked to the street art mural of Winehouse, painted by artist JXC on the back of The Hawley Arms pub.
Two students from Brighton University were visiting the mural mere moments after watching the movie on an Amy Winehouse themed tour of Camden.
The pair had conflicting opinions on the films more controversial scenes, but were in agreement that lead actress Marisa Abela had done a great job.
Lewis McClean, 20, said: “We are big fans. We have just seen the movie. We feel very conflicted about it.
“The lady who played Amy was very good, she did her justice. That is something I was worried about going in. I really liked the movie.
“She knew that she had to go through a struggle to make good music and I am glad they portrayed that. To make a good film you have to put in the juicy parts.”
Maddy Gower, 21, added: “I feel very conflicted about the father stuff. In the film they made him look like a hero.
“[And] there was a part where she says, ‘I just want to be known for what I do’ but they just showed the drugs.
“Amy is so unique, and I think the actress did a very good job."
The Flamin’ Eight Tattoo Studio features as a spot used by Winehouse and Fielder-Civil in the film.
The owners said it was a pleasure to welcome Hollywood to north London.
Naresh Bhana, 56, who has been working at the shop for 22 years said: “They rented the whole place as a location. They came in and redecorated completely.
“It was kind of weird seeing the movie the other day knowing that it was our studio, especially because it was all different colours.
“In the trailer they showed the front of our shop, so that was really cool.
“Amy used to come here back in the day. We met her a couple of times in passing. We love her music she is great. She is an integral part of Camden.”
Sonia Bhana, 51, added: “We are used to having camera crews here, but this was a totally different kettle of fish. This was Hollywood.
“The actress was really lovely and was cuddling Paco [their 13-year-old chihuahua]. Sam Taylor-Johnson was really lovely too.”
On the film itself Mrs Bhana said: “I absolutely loved it. I didn’t know what to expect because there have been some controversial reviews.
“I came out of it inspired to make music again. For a film to affect me like that it was really well put together. It has been a while since I have felt so emotional about a film.
“It warmed my heart because it was Camden. It was so good to see all the spots that I had gone to as a child. You are reliving your youth in a way.”
The couple say that their studio attracts a lot of Amy fans, and that they have done plenty of tattoos of the star in their time.
Another of the locations used in filming was The Good Mixer pub in Camden Town, which was supposedly one of the singer's favourites.
The movie retells how the star met Fielder-Civil whilst playing pool in the venue.
Mondi Elezi, 45, who has been working at the pub for six years says the filming crew took over the site for five days.
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