Hours cut for bar’s outside seats area

NEIGHBOURS COMPLAINED TO COUNCIL

NATTERJACKS bar will close its outside seating area earlier after complaints from neighbours it was too noisy.

Leicester City Council’s noise pollution team had received a number of complaints from nearby residents since the Braunstone Gate bar, pictured, reopened in March.

One resident of Bede Street said in a letter to the council: “Since reopening, the outside decking meant loud, drinking customers have been audible from my residence and many others.

“More problematically, the bar has sought to give these patrons music by having its back door open and playing loud music out on to the decking (and therefore the street).

“The effect on mental health has been, for me personally, ongoing and negative.”

Braunstone Gate is a popular area for restaurants and bars, but Bede Street is a residential area, which led to councillors upholding the neighbours’ noise complaints.

Natterjacks will now close its decking area at 10pm, Sunday to Thursday, and at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

The opening times of the bar itself will not be affected.

A council spokesman said: “The subcommittee were satisfied that the representations... engaged one of the four licensing objectives and concluded that it was appropriate and proportionate to modify the conditions of the licence.”

The bar is also set to put in a second door to minimise the noise spilling outside.

Sean Doyle, bar manager, told the Mercury before the meeting that it had been working with neighbours and council to solve the problem.

He said: “We have always strived to work alongside our neighbours to resolve any issues to everyone’s satisfaction without escalation.

“We have put measures into place in order to work with the council and resolve these noise issues – we open the back area only when necessary for bookings, but there is no music played in the area.

“This area is also always closed, with the door shut, before midnight.”

After the meeting the bar said it was happy with the outcome of the council hearing and it had suggested the earlier closing times to the council’s noise abatement team.

Mr Doyle said: “We are looking forward to leaving this matter behind us and living in harmony with our neighbours, as this is the outcome we wanted.”