Please can someone help me find out local pub's licensing laws

zeezee82

My local which is literally just over the road has always been pretty dead & quiet. The occasional loud music has stopped before I have gone to bed (11ish). However tonight the music is sooo loud, my little toddler son is ill & not sleeping well, people are outside smoking & shouting & I have lived here a year & half. This is the first time this has happened. Anywhere I can find out about licensing laws?

I will be contacting my local council tonight as this is keeping me awake. What a change for this hell ridden building!!

Many thanks if anyone can help :beer:

Kevie192

I'd have thought there is very little anyone can do now. You should have called the police last night.

The council should be the best bet to find out about licensing but if it's only once in a blue moon anyway then I doubt anyone will see it as a big problem?

Kevin

browneyedbazzi

If you have a look on your council's website they may have a 'public access' service that allows you to see licences - that will tell you the times they are allowed to operate, what they are licensed to do (ie sell alcohol, provide entertainment, sell food late at night) and what conditions are on the licence (a lot of places have to keep doors and windows shut or have a system in place to limit noise).

There is separate legislation about preventing nuisance as well and generally the best thing to do is to call the council while the noise is bad so that an officer can witness it - if the noise is loud enough to be a statutory nuisance (it prevents you from the peaceful enjoyment of your home) then the council can take action to stop it (a noise abatement notice).

If the problem persists the equipment causing the noise can be seized, they can be taken to court and face fines, or you could apply for the licence to be reviewed which could lead to them losing their licence totally or just losing the part that allows entertainment or additional conditions being put on it to prevent the problem.

becs

In addition to their normal licensing hours a premises can apply to temporarily change or extend their hours for functions.
Sadly th usual answer applies here, if you don' like noise from a pub don't live next to one. The pub was there before you and whilst it may be one type of pub when you move in these things change. Pubs change hands fairly frequently and when they do what it is becomes likely to change also.
I woud also say with regard to people outside smoking this is because the law forced them out there (something I'm thankful for I have to say!) so it's not necessarily the landlords fault.

zeezee82

I did check the council website but only found info on how to apply for a licence. I called the noise department at the council as stated and they did say they were going to send someone out. I am used to my neighbours making noise so this is nothing new.

I don't live right next to the pub, it's across a big wide main rd and up a bit but that's how loud the music was. I know all about drunken noise having lived in a pub as a child. Can sleep through that too.

I do want to move but can't find anywhere that will take me.

Have e-mailed council about licensing laws anyway. Thanks for replies