Inside ‘Russian spies’ seaside meetings at B&B HQ where ‘undercover agents’ would pop into local bar for pint of Carling

THE alleged Russian agents who cops believe used the rundown seaside B&B in Great Yarmouth as the HQ for its whole spy operation also popped into the pub opposite for a pint of Carling most days.

Three men and two women are accused of conspiring to commit espionage following a major Met Police investigation.

Orlin Roussev, 45, Bizer Dzhambazov, 41, Katrin Ivanova, 31, Ivan Stoyanov, 31, and Vanya Gaberova, 29, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier today.

Now, it has been revealed the accused undercover agents would meet in The Mermaid Bar in the Prom Hotel, across the road from terraced guesthouse The Haydee.

One pub local said: “They were in The Mermaid all the time apparently, having Carling like everyone else because it’s cheap.

“I think the odd time they had John Smiths or San Miguel - but they were Carling regulars, I’m told.

“To be honest we get loads of people living in the hostels and B&Bs and lots of them are from Eastern Europe.”

The Haydee received a 9 out of 10 rating from Booking.com as recently as 2017.

The alleged spy cell was thought to have been based just 50 yards from Great Yarmouth’s pier - where comedians Roy Chubby Brown and Jim Davidson are regulars.

All Bulgaria natives, the group allegedly conspired to gather information that would be useful to an enemy between August 2020 and February this year.

They used a surveillance kit to gain information and pass it onto a tasker in Russia while working for a UK network, the court heard.

This information was allegedly used to "conduct hostile acts" against specific targets, including their "potential abductions".

The five defendants were arrested under the British Official Secrets Act following raids on properties in London and Great Yarmouth in Norfolk.

They spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses when they appeared via video-link this morning.

The group was remanded into custody ahead of a hearing at the Old Bailey on October 13.

Last month it emerged Dzhambazov and Ivanova had lived an unsuspecting life in Britain for ten years.

Dzhambazov has reportedly worked as a hospital driver, while Ivanova worked as a private sector laboratory assistant. 

The pair would visit their neighbours with pies and cakes as gifts and were popular figures in their community in Harrow, North London.

They were previously charged alongside Roussev with possession of false identity documents with "improper intention".

Gaberova meanwhile is an award-winning beautician who ran a salon called Pretty Woman in Acton, West London.