The volume of sound coming from a Hove pub was not consistently loud enough to amount to a noise nuisance, a council licensing panel has found.
People living in four properties near the Paris House pub, in Western Road, Hove, complained to Brighton and Hove City Council about the venue.
They asked a council licensing panel to impose more conditions to put a stop to loud music late at night.
The panel – made up of three councillors – reviewed the licence at a hearing that lasted eight hours a week ago – on Friday 10 May.
The panel – David McGregor, Paul Nann and Tobias Sheard – heard from neighbours, a sound expert, the pub’s owners and musicians who perform there.
Neighbours who have lived near the pub for between 12 and 35 years spoke about lost sleep because of loud music and being able to hear the words inside their homes.
But the panel were not convinced that the noise amounted to a public nuisance.
The council said: “The area itself is a busy, vibrant city centre location with many other licensed and retail premises and thus a level of noise is inevitable.
“The evidence of noise disturbance is not sufficiently widespread or consistent to amount to a public nuisance in our view.
“There are many representations from residents who live closer to the premises than the applicants who are not disturbed by noise from the premises including those who live immediately next door.
“The representations from the environmental protection officer and licensing officer do not corroborate the applicants’ complaints or establish the existence of a noise nuisance or breach of any conditions despite over 20 visits to the premises.”
The panel recognised that the pub’s noise limiter was in constant use and the Saturday resident DJ made regular noise checks.
The venue’s existing licence was an “old” one and the panel noted that some of the conditions were not as clear and precise as they could be, particularly the basic guidance around the sound limiter.
The panel said: “Given the assurances by the DJ and licence holders that the sound limiter was in effective operation during DJ sets and recorded music, we consider it is appropriate therefore to replace it with the following condition which was discussed with the premises when they met the licensing officers and was acceptable to them.
“The installed sound limiter device shall be set and approved by an environmental protection officer from Brighton and Hove City Council.
“Once set, the limiter shall be locked and tamper-free. Access to this device will be made available and adjustments made should noise complaints be received.
“All recorded music and DJ sets shall be plugged into this sound limiter device to limit the music level.”
The panel said that the outside area should be closed and cleared by 11pm in line with the current licence and the management should continue to check noise regularly both inside and outside the premises.
The Paris House’s parent company Rowbell Leisure was approached for comment.
The pub is very well run with next to no trouble. I live next to a pub on waterloo street which is also well run. The pubs have been here long before most residents and they should celebrate they still do live music. If residents are not happy MOVE.
But a lot of pubs aren’t well run.
And the ‘move’ repost is just glib and insulting
Friend of mine moved next door to a pub. Before he did checked the licence conditions and if there wre any complaints etc Checked the oubs favebook to see what sort of events they ran and so on. He did his due dillegence.
New landlord took over and basically ignored the conditions running events late into the night, not closing doors or windows to minimse external noise as per the licence.
Would you have just told my friend to move when the pub changed how it was operated?
But you’re conflating two separate things. The Paris House has had consistent management Who’ve maintained standards and changes have only been to tighten things up and be a better neighbour so your friends situation wouldn’t apply.
As someone whose lived in places with multiple bars within yards I’ve experienced noise but that was there before me so I accepted it. If things worsened then I spoke with the landlords and accepted that a return to the status quo was reasonable not for all noise to be eradicated.
The report and ruling state that neighbours nearer than The complainants ( upto and including direct next door neighbours) stated they didn’t have issues or feel their lives were impacted. That in itself indicates some degree of vexious elements in the complaints and that the venue is acting as a responsible and respectful neighbour
I lived two doors away and above Paris house and also kept my windows mostly open all year round. Yes, there was some music on occasions. But it was always shut off at 12 or at 1 on a weekend. Sharp. Also it was never too loud to disturb me and if I closed my window it didn’t even travel through. I am an absolute advocate that if you live near by a pub, I’m sorry, but it’s on you. Double glaze the windows, put insolation around the frame and doors. Or move. Public establishments are important to the city and to the neighbourhood. It is a well run pub. And it is still much quieter than a couple streets down – Preston Street, where I also had a pleasure of living.
Wasn’t there some anti alcohol campaign group that was paying people to move near pubs and then complain about noise? I wonder if this is the situation here.
The City centre has all sorts of noise late and very early. You must be a compete idiot if you move to such a location and are sensitive to noise.
LOL live by a pub in a busy city centre expect noise. don’t live near a pub in a busy city centre if you want peace and tranquility.
..or just buy some noise cancelling headphones,
It is nice to see common sense prevail
These old buildings are not fit for late night concerts or live music. They are not sound proofed enough, and people queue up outside talking/drinking . If music stopped at 12, would be ok but it keeps going on till 3-4 am and causing all sorts of antisocial behaviour. Not fair to say residents to move away. Council only see the licence money they get. Myself live next to another pub and had been through this. Nothing has been done by the council.
Great news.
A victory for common sense.
Here’s a novel idea that the occupants of the four properties might want to try….. Turn off your TV and venture out to The Paris House. You just might enjoy some great music, make a few new friends and god forbid have a great time!