'Bad memories' force Christian Bale to flee London after premiere

Christian Bale and Sandra Bale at the London premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. Photo / AP

Christian Bale only spent a few hours in London on the day of The Dark Knight Rises premiere because the city "holds bad memories" for him.

The Batman star attended the first UK screening of his latest movie, jetting in from Paris, France and back again, while the rest of the cast stayed overnight in the English capital.

After being arrested at the Dorchester hotel four years ago, it was "mutually agreed" that the star would make only a three-and-a-half hour visit this time.

Police got involved after he reportedly pushed his sister, Jenny, and mother, Sharon, during an altercation inside the £6,000 a night suite at the five-star hotel.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "London holds some pretty bad memories for Christian, especially that hotel.

"While everyone else in the film, including Anne Hathaway, are staying in London, Christian didn't want to."

The insider continued: "Instead, he flew into Luton airport from Paris, walked the red carpet, and was then driven straight back to the airport to catch a flight back to France.

"He did not attend the cast and crew private dinner."

Meanwhile, speaking ahead of the Leicester Square European opening night of the film, the 38-year-old actor's mother revealed they have not reconciled.

She made a last minute decision to travel to London from her home in Bournemouth, Dorset, in the hope of seeing her only son yesterday morning.

Before leaving on the journey, the parent-of-three said: "I have not been invited to the premiere and will not be going as an official guest."

- Bang! Showbiz