Pub wins battle to double customers
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 18th April 2002.
An application to double the number of people at a Haverhill pub has been approved for six months, despite objections.
The Rose and Crown in Withersfield Road applied to vary its public entertainment licence from 100 to 200 people.
Haverhill Town Council’s Licensing and Appeals committee approved the application for six months at its meeting on Tuesday night.
A special condition was also imposed that a door supervisor be on duty at the rear exit at all times to encourage customers to leave quietly and quickly.
A letter of objection and a petition signed by 20 people were received from residents of nearby Downs Crescent. They said they had been unable to use their gardens and kept awake until the pub, as well as people sitting on benches outside it drinking and swearing.
Simon Philpotts and Alan Wiseman attended the meeting and said they feared an increase in permitted numbers would make the problem worse.
Lynn Smith said residents had been disturbed by music until 3am in the past. She and her husband had even been able to hear questions from quizzes at the pub while they were in bed.
“Many a time our family, which consists of young children, has had to retire early, simply because of the level of noise and language. We cannot entertain people in our own garden without being embarrassed and feeling we have to apologise,” the letter accompanying the petition said.
Neil Forbes, managing director of Elizabeth Hotels which owns the Rose and Crown, said since he took over last January their had been no complaints about noise. A £85,000 refurbishment had taken place with air condition and double glazing to reduce the noise. The sound system would blow if it exceeded a permitted level.
Mr Forbes said: “I am fully aware of local peoples concerns, we know the Rose and Crown had a bad reputation. We are hoteliers, it is not our intention to run a disco.
“We just want to be part of the circuit so people will come in for a drink and then move onto the nightclub. It is not in our interests to ha people being raucous and using bad language.”
Gerry Kiernan, committee chairman said a temporary consent was being granted so that the situation could be monitored.
He said: “Members are very concerned about the use of the rear entrance and people drinking outside during the time that there is entertainment.
“We are asking you to use all your management skills to make sure that the problem is not as bad in future and that you can be a good neighbour to the people near you.”
The Rose and Crown in Withersfield Road applied to vary its public entertainment licence from 100 to 200 people.
Haverhill Town Council’s Licensing and Appeals committee approved the application for six months at its meeting on Tuesday night.
A special condition was also imposed that a door supervisor be on duty at the rear exit at all times to encourage customers to leave quietly and quickly.
A letter of objection and a petition signed by 20 people were received from residents of nearby Downs Crescent. They said they had been unable to use their gardens and kept awake until the pub, as well as people sitting on benches outside it drinking and swearing.
Simon Philpotts and Alan Wiseman attended the meeting and said they feared an increase in permitted numbers would make the problem worse.
Lynn Smith said residents had been disturbed by music until 3am in the past. She and her husband had even been able to hear questions from quizzes at the pub while they were in bed.
“Many a time our family, which consists of young children, has had to retire early, simply because of the level of noise and language. We cannot entertain people in our own garden without being embarrassed and feeling we have to apologise,” the letter accompanying the petition said.
Neil Forbes, managing director of Elizabeth Hotels which owns the Rose and Crown, said since he took over last January their had been no complaints about noise. A £85,000 refurbishment had taken place with air condition and double glazing to reduce the noise. The sound system would blow if it exceeded a permitted level.
Mr Forbes said: “I am fully aware of local peoples concerns, we know the Rose and Crown had a bad reputation. We are hoteliers, it is not our intention to run a disco.
“We just want to be part of the circuit so people will come in for a drink and then move onto the nightclub. It is not in our interests to ha people being raucous and using bad language.”
Gerry Kiernan, committee chairman said a temporary consent was being granted so that the situation could be monitored.
He said: “Members are very concerned about the use of the rear entrance and people drinking outside during the time that there is entertainment.
“We are asking you to use all your management skills to make sure that the problem is not as bad in future and that you can be a good neighbour to the people near you.”
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