Sounding Off – Live Music Pub Vows to Fight Noise Nuisance Order
Last orders are being called on live music at a pub in Berwick following complaints from just one neighbour. Here’s the story.
The Barrels Ale House was ordered to turn the volume down after a neighbour complained. Simon Vickers, who has owned the venue for five years, said he had been forced to cancel all its gigs for the foreseeable future, but was looking to challenge the decree.
He said the notice had been issued after complaints from one resident, spanning more than five years.
“We’ve had visits from the council before, we’ve installed various soundproofing doors and other measures, but it’s a really old
Victorian building so it’s not easily sound proofable. In the long-term we are determined to continue with live music, but in the short term we feel we have no option but to scale it back while we take legal advice,” he said.
“I’m confident live music will be back at Barrels in the long term, but at the moment acoustic solo acts are about all we could get away with – things like drums are a definite no-no.
“Unfortunately the way legislation is at the moment, you can buy a flat above a music venue and get the music stopped, which to me is totally bonkers.”
A petition to ‘Save live music at The Barrels Ale House’ has attracted almost 2,300 signatures in just over 24 hours of being launched. The change.org petition says, “For decades The Barrels Ale House has been a cornerstone of the night-life and community in Berwick Upon Tweed, as well as being the hub for live music in the area.
Earlier this year a flurry of similar cases at established music venues led to new government legislation requiring developers to seek prior approval on noise impacts before a change of use from an office to residential building can be carried out.
The campaign from the Musicians’ Union was launched after Night & Day cafe in Manchester was almost forced to close in 2014 after noise complaints from neighbours.
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