Pub Noise

[MarwoodsSaveloy]

Pub across the road has outdoor seating area which is on public highway. Assuming they have the correct permission for this, do they have to clear the area (ie move patrons indoors)at a certain time, as they would if it were a beer garden and enclosed? Covid rules mean they've been told to make use of their outdoor space and landlord, after complaints from myself and other residents has taken to getting them inside usually around 11pm. Can't remember if he did this prior to Covid but disagrees the noise levels are bad - clientele has gone downhill since reopening and the noise outside is unacceptable, lots of loud loutish behaviour, shouting, football terrace type of thuggish chanting. If he has to have the outdoor area cleared by a certain time, does this mean any noise up until then is classed as 'fair game'? Local licensing info and officers are not much cop. He's making up for it by having the jukebox on inside quite loud and no social distancing outdoors or inside!

[ummmm]

What time does the noise go on to?

[MarwoodsSaveloy]

Hmmmm the noise can be all evening, starts early if the weather is nice. He rounds anyone up from outside anything from 11 until 11.30 but once inside you can hear the thud of the music and Friday there was loud singing. All our windows are *** but theres open. Some noise when it closes at 1am. Neighbours wont sit watching their tv in the front room as the noise from the outside revellers is too much - they retire to their bedroom at the back early to avoid it. I have kids sleeping at the front too.

[MarwoodsSaveloy]

Sorry, atrocious typos there! I guess what I'm trying to ask is if pubs need to reduce volume at 11pm, up until that point would any noise outdoors be deemed acceptable? Landlord oblivious to the idea of putting signs up to ask people to respect residents until neighbour mentioned it to him. He has houses opposite, behind and either side! Volume up inside to make up for not being able to have live entertainment. Other pubs in village have beer gardens.

[bednobs]

What time does the licence run to?

[ummmm]

1am, bednobs.

All you can do is phone the council but I bet the noise isn't as bad as you think.

[TonyV]

I've called local Council noise abatement officers when I had a problem, they did come out when noise was after 12 at night and put a stop to noise after using noise meter to measure volume.

[MarwoodsSaveloy]

Licensing officer tricky to get hold of but my neighbour rang local police a few weeks ago and had a chat and we think someone from licensing came out and found out they weren't routinely checking I.d. landlord has been out 'patrolling' this weekend so noise wasn't as bad as it has been but it's hit and miss. He told me himself he doesn't think the noise is that bad but working in a pub and inside for most of the night, I don't think he appreciates how much the sound travels. Pub is raised up higher than the houses opposite and carries over our roofs so they may as well be in our gardens. Obviously we don't expect deathly silence but when you get utter morons shouting and jeering at passing cars then cheering when they get a reaction, it grates ever so slightly. It's the unnecessary shouting and chanting that is most annoying. Cars pulling up in front of my house or people walking past and stopping so there is conversation being shouted across the road, cars speeding past and sounding their horns doesn't help either. Will be trying again to contact licensing tomorrow and in the meantime, pray for more rain.

[MarwoodsSaveloy]

Thanks for all the replies, think I'm going to try and unclench a bit here. Admittedly it was worse in July and August when it was still novelty - noise would be throughout the week too - and it'll naturally quieten down now schools are back, weather is cooling and more people are going back to work but it starts to take over your life a bit when you begin dreading a sunny weekend forecast as you know it'll bring all the idiots out.

[Cloverjo]

I also live across the road from a pub with outdoor seating. I haven’t noticed the customers being rounded up and brought inside at 11pm. There probably wouldn’t be room for social distancing with the other customers already there.

Some pubs and restaurants have signs up asking people to respect their neighbours, but they don’t have to.

I’ve learnt to put up with a bit of noise. It used to drive me nutty but it’s better to try to be relaxed about it. It’ll quieten down in the autumn and winter anyway.

[ladybirder]

Marwood you have my sympathy. Your post sums up exactly why I would never buy a property opposite a pub. Our local council has a Noise Patrol telephone number which operates between certain hours but only at the weekend. Good luck with getting it sorted.

[bookbinder]

https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q122.htm

[gulliver1]

Have you been living where you are a long time, or just recently moved in?.

[MarwoodsSaveloy]

I think the moving customers inside at a certain time has come since me and a neighbour complained, I just don't know if there's a time he should be doing it anyway, I think it depends on the terms of the license. Neighbours have lived here 10 years and it's played a part in their decision to sell. I moved in 4 years ago,it wasn't ideal but we had run out of options. It was empty at the time then they took over and changed it into a live music venue. I have in the past messaged the pub when I couldn't find a phone number and have shouted out from my window or front door to the customers to shut up many a time. It has never been as bad as it has been since the reopening and I think the clientele has changed - lots of late teens going probably because he didn't reduce his opening hours like the other pubs in the village although the older customers are just as bad, and on the odd occasion you find a group of women there, they can be even worse. Finding somewhere else to rent will be our last resort, we've moved a few times and it's not something I really want to do again!

[MarwoodsSaveloy]

Thanks anyone who has refrained from posting any "well you chose to live opposite a pub" type of comments, even if you've thought it!

[THECORBYLOON]

The Government advice regarding playing music says,

" All venues should ensure that steps are taken to mitigate the
increased risk of virus transmission associated with aerosol
production from raised voices, such as when speaking loudly or
singing loudly, particularly in confined and poorly ventilated
spaces. This includes, but is not limited to, lowering the volume
of background music, and refraining from playing music or
broadcasts that may encourage shouting, particularly if played
at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult. Evidence
on the most effective steps that can be taken to limit the
transmission of the virus continues to be regularly reviewed.
This guidance may be updated in the future in response to
changing scientific understanding."

It might be worth pointing that out to the council officials.

[THECORBYLOON]

Excuse the odd formatting. Seems to happen now and again and looks fine when I paste.

[MarwoodsSaveloy]

Yes, I'd picked up on that too, thecorbyloon. I think the pub is too small inside for him to have any live music events on,as I believe that's now allowed if you can do it safely so I think he's possibly trying to.make up for it by having the jukebox on louder! That annoying level of volume where you can't make out the words or what sing it is, but loud enough to not go unnoticed!