A review of the premises licence for The Little Albion pub in Broadstairs will be held on September 5.
The pub, in St Peter’s Road, has come under fire from some residents who complained to Thanet council about excessive noise from ‘ear-bleeding’ music nights, fighting, late-night shouting and screaming and screeching cars.
A noise abatement notice was previously served on pub landlord Marcus Hogg but now his licence could also be axed.
Complaints
In a document to members of Thanet council’s licensing committee the authority’s environmental protection manager Morgan Sproates says: “There has been an intermittent history of noise complaints from this premises since our records began but from April 2017 the number of complaints has significantly increased.
“All complaints concern loud music and noise from patrons congregating outside the premises.”
Mr Sproates says a warning was given on June 6 following an incident four days earlier with two further incidents witnessed that month.
On June 20 Mr Hogg was served with a noise abatement notice and a further warning letter was sent on June 26.
Mr Sproates said no response was received. He added: “Officers were again called out on July 1 and could hear music within the complainant’s bedroom at midnight. On July 8 officers arrived at 10.10pm and music levels were much reduced.”
But he adds: “Despite several warnings, including service of an abatement notice, noise complaints have continued.”
Mr Sproates said Environmental Health wants live music at the pub stopped and a reduction in recorded music; sound limiting device fitted and the end of people taking drinks outside.
‘Trying everything’
Mr Hogg, who took over the pub in April last year, says he is trying to do everything he can to reduce the noise.
The former scaffolder says he has had door closers fitted, is making sure windows are closed when live music is being staged, has bought a noise limiter and put up signs asking customers to keep the noise down and have respect for the neighbours.
The dad-of-two said: “I’m trying to do everything I’ve been told to do. I have lowered all the times so bands finish at 11pm rather than midnight and the jukebox goes off at midnight instead of 1am. I’m trying my hardest.”
A petition launched in a bid to save the pub gathered 508 signatures online and 350 on the paper version in the pub.
The licence review will be held at Thanet council on September 5 at 10am.
I completely sympathise with the residents living in the vicinity of a late night noisy public house. It is not nice listening to a noise that is not your own making. It becomes very stressful and harmful to your health. I know as I had this problem near me for years before it eventually was stopped. Yes, the landlord said he was doing everything possible but it wasn’t making a blind bit of difference. I endured stress and with a heart condition was taken to hospital on more than one occasion because of it. There is the not knowing when it will start up, how long it will continue, what the volume would be, and having to keep a record and call the out-of-hours line for officers to attend and witness the nuisance. I do understand the landlord needs to make a living and a profit out of his business but they can still do that without all the noise and nuisance caused, and save the locals who are not customers from restless nights. So many other pubs and bars can do it so why not there?
It would be interesting to know whether the complainants broughttheir properties near the pub. Were they quite recent? Did the pub already run music evenings or is it something new since they arrived. Have the clientele of the pub become noisier since the complainants first arrived? The licensing authorities should investigate that before making any decision.
The owner of the pub has only been there 4 months
Went to the little albion during folk week. There was more noise coming from the four candles. The live band they had on that night couldn’t be heard outside until the door was opened to let people in. It’s mainly three neighbours one who has historically made complaints the second is a new neighbour to the pub. The third lives in Upton Rd and has made it a personal vendetta due to a disagreement with Marcus.
If you buy/rent a house close to a public house surely you have to expect a certain amount of noise. As a regular in the little Albion including having been a musician performing there I believe that the noise levels of the music certainly haven’t been “ear splitting”! Apart from the odd (maybe 3-4 times) the music has generally been acoustic acts using amplification to allow it to be heard over the general bustle of the clientele. Marcus the landlord since the noise abatement order has bent over backwards to do the best he can to reduce the noise. Music stops earlier and he makes a concerted effort keep the noise from his customers to a minimum. These people that make these complaints should think themselves lucky that they don’t live further down into the town as the noise from other establishments for example the Dolphin pub are at far higher levels! Don’t want a bit of late night noise don’t live near a pub simple!
So unfair, many of these sort of complaints are completely unfounded and malicious. They are often made to get back at people and have no basis in fact . The benefit of the doubt is always given to the complainant who is allowed to remain anonymous. I don’t know where this statement is coming from , that there has been a history of complaints since their records began ? I had the pub for 4and a half years and there were no noise complaints from the council during that period. There were however quite a few complaints, probably from the same people who are complaining now , who seem not to be happy and fulfilled unless they are complaining about something! I have personally known the pub and the previous owners going back to the 1980’s and have never known it to be a troublesome pub. The pub has been there for well over a hundred years serving the community, it’s very like the old analogy- if you don’t like the noise of trains , don’t move near to a railway line. With the continuing demise of traditional local pubs it beggars belief that this little pub is being persecuted like this and not being given the support it deserves.
Paul above is right. I do hope that any decision made is not influenced by the current property development next door…..just a thought
So if I were to live next to a Fire Station, Ambulance Station, Police Station, Traffic Lights, Train Station. Airport. Should I have the right to complain and have these facilities closed down. Come on grow up. It was your choice to purchase/rent a property near a pub. If you don’t like it you have a choice. Move or shut up.
So these people who think that pubs should be allowed to play loud music whilst the the neighbors can move out if they dont like the noise. Should try sleeping in their kitchen for a few nights on cushions from the sofa to get away from the screaming drunk Women,& shouting drunk men. Its not what is wanted even if living near a Pub( as I do) I love my flat & cant afford to move ! I was told (wrongly) that it was a well run pub also gender friendly.But my got its put me of Pube for life, seeint things that go on. (Drugs, pot smoking) & -yes we the folk that live near have complained no end!!