Bridport Bar says they'll take measures to cut down on late night noise
Neon in East Street say they'll close their outdoor earlier - even if it means the business will take a loss
A Bridport bar operator has offered to take further measures to cut down on late night noise.
Mike Long, who manages Neon in East Street, says he will close outside areas earlier, if it is justified, although he disputes all the noise complaints in the area relate to his customers.
The premises is currently being investigated by Dorset Council’s environmental health team after complaints about noise during the summer.
Mr Long appeared before an online licensing panel on Monday asking for a 2am to 4am extension for a Halloween party with a DJ on the last weekend in October.
Both Dorset Police and environmental health had objected to the extra hours, although even if not granted, could see the bar still open for an extra hour because of the change in the clocks from British summertime.
Mr Long said there had been complaints about noise from the bar’s garden and from a band earlier in the year which refused to turn their sound system down. He said they would not be booked again.
He told an online licensing panel hearing that he would continue to work with the police and environmental health to reduce problems for neighbours, even if that meant a loss of business by having to shut the outdoor area earlier.
Dorset Police have asked Mr Lone to consider changes to the overall premises license which, they say, would be a better solution than the bar having to continually ask for temporary orders for longer opening throughout the year.
Earlier this year Mr Long won an extended hours application for the late August bank holiday weekend despite police concerns.
Sgt Gareth Gosling said that during that evening there had been a report that a woman had assaulted door staff and later that another woman had been found unconscious in the toilets and had been taken to hospital over concerns that her drink had been spiked, although this had not been substantiated.
Mr Long told the panel that not all the late night noise complaints were attributable to his customers but may have been caused by people from other premises in the town making their way home. He said there were eight bars in the area which could open until 4am and one which had a 24-hour licence.
He said there had been complaints from the Bull Hotel as well as from residential properties which back onto Neon. He said some of the complaints related to nights Neon was not open.
“We are here to work with whoever we need to, just give us advice on what you would like us to do,” said Mr Long…”We are in town, but we’re not responsible for everything in the town.”
The bar has the capacity for 130 people, including staff and performers inside, with an unlimited capacity in the outside areas although Mr Long said he tries to keep the numbers at 100 inside and 30 outside.
Panel members were told that there were 9 noise complaints to Dorset Council environmental health relating to Neon between August and September last year and five this year between July and August, some of which are now the subject of an official investigation which has included noise monitoring equipment being installed in the area.
A decision on the application for the Halloween event is expected by the end of this week.