Calls for permanent closure of beer garden

PEOPLE living in a city suburb have called for a pub beer garden to be permanently closed following previous complaints.

Cardiff councillors will this week discuss an application from people living near The New Inn pub on Caerphilly Road to review the venue’s licence.

Since a £332,000 makeover in February, the landlord says the beer garden has not been used and that residents’ concerns had been taken into account.

But some neighbours have called for the licence conditions to be changed, to ensure it does not reopen in future.

The request, submitted by Dr Ruth McKee, states: “We are writing to apply to the Licensing Committee to amend the License to The New Inn pub to not allow use of outdoor areas as outdoor pubs or beer gardens most especially in the area that extends into the residential cul-desac of Hampton Road leading to Norton Avenue.”

The pub had been closed for nine months for the six-figure makeover in partnership with national pub company Punch.

It reopened in February with the interior fully refurbished, including new furniture and a new kitchen. The changes created five new jobs.

Clare Cox, who runs the pub said the concerns of residents had already been met.

And since the pub reopened in February, the Norton Avenue/Hampton Road side of the pub has not been used as an outdoor drinking area because of concerns raised by residents before it shut for refurbishment.

She also added that a lot of locals are currently using the pub.

The changes were also welcomed by Labour ward councillor Graham Hinchey, who said there had been “a very positive response” to previous concerns within the community.

The licence review request, which will go before the sub-licensing committee on March 31, says: “The outdoor pub area as demarcated at present is some 14-15 metres from our own home, some 7-8 metres from the nearest family home, which is awaiting the arrival of new owners, and only metres from a large children’s day care nursery for children under the age of five.

“All these and other properties overlook the outdoor pub area.

“Regardless of who or isn’t responsible for managing the pub this is clearly a completely inappropriate location for outdoor consumption of alcohol, smoking and whatever other activities and conduct are associated with an outdoor pub.”

The application for a review of the licence at the pub argues that if there was a new application for an outdoor beer garden then it would not be approved.