08/09/2009 - Ritchie's pub faces licence threat
The noise at film director Guy Ritchie's pub could see the establishment's licence being placed under review.
A microphone was used by Westminster City Council to monitor noise outside The Punchbowl in central London. The monitoring was carried out following a spate of complaints from residents. Initially, the pub was found to be louder while people were drinking outside, with noise dropping when drinkers were brought inside at 9pm under a management curfew to reduce noise.
The licence could be revoked by the council's independent licensing sub-committee in the case of a review. However, a condition limiting outdoor drinking is thought to be more likely. Since last March, when Ritchie bought the pub, Westminster City Council has received 37 complaints about noise.
Steve Harrison, the council's assistant director of community protection, said: "Preliminary results do show a rise in noise while people are drinking outside the pub and this tails off at 9pm when the pub's security staff bring customers inside.
"Officers will now begin an in-depth analysis of the results and consider whether the rise in noise levels - and the fact they do fall quickly after 9pm - are significant enough to cause a potential nuisance."
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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