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Coventry bar's licence to be reviewed after noise complaints

Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:20 pm

A Coventry city centre bar is in trouble again after complaints about noise.

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Managers of Eden bar and restaurant, in Ryley Street, were first warned about keeping noise to a minimum in October 2009 when they were brought before the city council’s licensing committee.

Following four breaches of a noise notice, a set of conditions was placed on the licence, and managers were told they had to install a noise limiting device and could only play music outdoors between certain times.

But the council’s environmental protection department says that since May this year it has received more complaints from residents living nearby.

During its own visits, officers reported noise levels were higher than agreed.

Peter Mackintosh, environmental protection officer, said meetings had been held with the bar managers and the limiter device checked but noise levels still remained high.

In a new report calling for a review, he wrote: “There is a long history of complaints against this premises, dating back to February 2009.

"Since this time there have been persistent complaints concerning loud music.

“It is our opinion those responsible for entertainment at the premises have not heeded the warnings and advice given and have failed in their duty to control the volume of music emanating from the premises, thereby causing a nuisance to residents.

“The current directors of the company were involved in the business in 2009 when the licence was reviewed so they are fully aware of the need to control noise and adhere to licensing conditions.”

Residents living in Hill Street have complained of music being played in the garden area until after the agreed hours.

They also say they have witnessed people urinating and vomiting on their property and often have to clear glass bottles from their garden the following day.

One resident said: “At first we thought the agreement reached was reasonable allowing them to carry on with their business while respecting local residents, but it appears they had no intention of complying with the councillors.

"They have apparently moved speakers and noise limiting devices and on occasions not used the device at all.

“We would suspect future notice would be treated with the same lack of respect.”

Supporting the bar, a volunteer at the Coventry Irish Society, in Hill Street, said: “We often work late into the evening and have never been disturbed by noise.

"When there are live bands performing it can be heard from our offices, but only as a background noise.”

Councillors will review the licence today.

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Re: Coventry bar's licence to be reviewed after noise complaints

Fri Sep 09, 2011 1:27 pm

Music banned at noisy Coventry city centre bar

Managers of Eden Bar and Restaurant, in Ryley Street, which holds regular acoustic events, have been told they can no longer play music after 11pm on weekends or 9pm on Sundays.

At a review hearing yesterday, members of the council’s licensing committee also banned the bar from playing recorded or live music from Mondays to Thursdays.

They also decided to suspend entertainment at the venue entirely until a new noise-limiting device was installed.

Presenting the case to the committee council solicitor, Mark Smith, said: “There has been a clear breach of licence conditions.

"The management has not proved effective in preventing a noise disturbance to residents so a more restricted licence is required.”

Environmental protection officers called for a review after managers breached conditions placed on the licence in October 2009 following noise complaints.

At the time a noise-limiting device was installed to keep volume levels down and staff were told music could not be played in the garden or marquee after certain times.

However, complaints from residents began again in May this year.

They said noise levels had increased and music was being played in the marquee beyond the agreed times.

Rachel Field, environmental protection manager, said: “Managers have been warned of the noise on several occasions but took no action when complaints were made.

“The venue itself is not suitable for the type of entertainment it is being used for and there is a lack of management control.”

On behalf of residents living nearby in Hill Street, Coun Jim O’Boyle (Lab, St Michael’s) said: “The restrictions placed on the bar two years ago have been ignored.

"There might not be dozens of residents nearby, and they know there is bound to be some noise disruption when living in the town centre, but they have lived there for many years and had no problems until two years ago.”

He also said residents had witnessed customers urinating or vomiting on their driveways.

At the meeting, Eden director, Chris Nelson, said the previous licence conditions had been confusing but added they took complaints very seriously and a doorman had been employed to control customers outside.

He added: “We are not a troublesome pub.

"We have been tarnished with a bad reputation from the previous owners and we are happy to work with the neighbours to resolve this. We are trying our hardest to run a successful business for the city.”

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Re: Coventry bar's licence to be reviewed after noise complaints

Fri Apr 26, 2013 12:44 pm

Coventry pub relaunched as bar and steak house

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A PUB in Coventry has been relaunched as a trendy bar and steak house.

Artisan Bar has been opened in the old Eden, in Ryley Street, by two pals looking to join with other venues to revitalise the city centre nightlife.

The venue had closed down after running into trouble with Coventry City Council last year following noise complaints from residents.

The previous managers were hauled before a licensing committee after complaints about loud music in the beer garden and noisy revellers leaving the venue.

The new venue – billed as a chill-out bar downstairs and restaurant upstairs – opened last Saturday and is hosting a Champagne opening evening tonight with live acoustic music.

Co-owner Tony Nickols has run a number of businesses including call centres and is now taking the plunge in the pub trade.

“It’s a great location and it’s near the Belgrade,” the former Cardinal Newman School pupil said.

“We’re not tied with a pub company or part of a chain so we can decide our own pricing and events.

“We certainly won’t be doing rave music or anything like that. We want to attract a more mature crowd.

“Coventry seems to suffer a bit from a lack of places to go.

“We’re Coventry kids, we’ve grown up here but Coventry’s nightlife is a bit down on itself.

“The city centre just seems a bit jaded at the moment and we want to work together with other businesses – there are few other independent businesses and we need to get together to help revitalise it.”

The fresh start comes after a council review last September banned the previous owners from playing music in the week. They were ordered not to play live music after 11pm on weekends.

The concerns dated back to 2009 following complaints from residents living nearby in Hill Street.

Tony and co-owner Joe Gavin are determined to kickstart the new venue and bring in a more mature over-30s crowd after buying the freehold for the business.

Joe grew up Willenhall and was a joint owner of Prague bar in Priory Place.

He has also run Yates in High Street and the Golden Cross in Hay Lane.

“We’re were having a look at a few pubs over Christmas and when we saw this we fell in love with the place,” the former Bishop Ullathorne School pupil said.

“It’s a great looking building. We saw the potential as a good steak house but we’ve had to spend a fortune redecorating the place.

“We’ve fitted a new kitchen and now we’re all ready to go.”

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