Pub slapped with noise guidelines after neighbour complains about ‘laughter’

A pub in central London has had its licensing hours restricted after a neighbour complained the sound of laughter was keeping them awake at night.

The Globe, located near Baker Street station, was hauled before Westminster Licensing Committee on November 7 after a local applied for its closing time to be changed from 12am to 11pm.

Official documents show that the resident complained about customers making noise outside the pub after its closing hours – with “constant murmuring” and the “occasional bout of laughter” reportedly keeping them awake.

Westminster Licensing Committee, part of Westminster city council, said the pub will have to adhere to some new conditions.

These include making a “direct telephone line” to the manager “publicly available” – and ensuring that all pubgoers drinking outside are “supervised” and behaving in “an orderly manner”.

The resident submitted evidence to the committee – a series of WhatsApp messages between them and the pub’s manager – as items to consider before cutting the hours.

In one exchange on March 15, they wrote at 12:04am: “Can you please disperse the people outside the pub. They are making a lot of noise. Thanks.”

The manager replied: “I will pass on to move them on. Apologies.”

The resident texted again twenty minutes later: “Hate to disturb again. They are still laughing and making a lot of noise.”

In another conversation on March 27, the resident wrote: “They aren’t dispersing and [there is] a lot of noise in the flat. We need to find a solution here. This is not OK.

“They are now screaming ‘happy birthday’.”

The manager said the team was “moving them as best we can and have told them to be quiet” – but the resident responded: “This is happening far too frequently. They woke me up again. They are still making a lot of noise.”

The Globe has been told the “conditions” of its licence have been modified while a ‘Full Reasoned Decision’ is made.

The pub has been told to maintain a “complaints log” from residents made available for inspection by a police officer or an authorised officer of Westminster City Council.

It has also been ordered to draw up an “external area management plan” for all employees – as well as a dispersal policy so patrons “leave the area quickly and quietly”.

The pub has been reminded that loudspeakers should not be located in the entrance or exit of the building – or outside.

No date has been set yet for when the ‘Full Reasoned Decision’ will be made but Westminster Licensing Committee advised that all parties will be able to appeal.

If the committee sides with the resident, the pub could have its licensing hours cut short.

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