Holland victorious in ten-year row over noise levels at wedding venue
Jools Holland has won a row over noise at the wedding venue next door to his home – which he used when he married – after a council ruled in his favour.
The entertainer, known for his annual Hootenanny music show for late night New Year’s revellers, complained to Medway Council about noise levels at Cooling Castle Barn, near Rochester in Kent, sparking a war with its supporters.
He moved in next door in 2002 and used the venue’s facilities when he married his wife Cristabel in 2005, but has been in dispute with the business about the problems for a decade, according to documents submitted to the council.
The application was discussed at a licensing meeting on Tuesday but councillors did not announce their decision until yesterday.
They imposed tougher restrictions to “prevent public nuisance”, ordering the venue to shut off access to the garden and outside area by 10:30pm on Friday and Saturday nights and 10pm for the rest of the week.
The business must introduce a noise management policy and set up a screened smoking area which is closed an hour before closing time and where drinks are prohibited, officials at Medway Council said.