Neighbours object to pub's bid to stay open until 1.30am

Hangleton Manor, image by The Voice of Hassocks, licensed by Creative Commons

Under the plans, the restaurant and pub at the Elizabethan manor would also include a beer garden as part of its licensed area.

And it would open for longer and remove the limit on the number of people allowed in certain areas.

This would allow the pub to set up a temporary bar outside without having to apply for a temporary event notice.

Currently a maximum of 100 people are allowed inside the pub at any time, with a maximum of 50 in the Tudor room area.

At the moment the Manor is open until midnight, but owner Hall and Woodhouse wants the option of ‘late night refreshment’ from 11pm to 1.30am from Monday to Saturday and 11pm to 12.30am on Sundays.

Four letters of objection were received from people living near by.

Neighbours Joanne and Lynn Wells wrote: “Our concern is regarding the increasing noise and disturbance that would result as our property backs on to the pub garden.

“At present the noise is until after 11pm and we are concerned that the proposals listed would increase both the amount of noise and the time that it goes on to in what is primarily a residential area.”

Peter and Susan Grist asked the council to listen to neighbours, writing: “We are often unable to go to bed before the pub closes because of the noise in the pub garden.

“In fine weather when windows are open, the noise does not finish before about 11.30pm.”

Neighbour Pat Donaghy said that neighbours were tolerant of the pub in her letter of objection.

She said: “Although the pub is a business I think they should consider the local residents and help retain the area as it is.

“Encouraging more customers would be disastrous for the local residents and the area in general.”

Vernon Hardman said that the limit on numbers would be for safety reasons in a limited space.

He raised his concerns about noise and wrote: “In good weather large numbers of people are in the garden during the afternoon and evenings, often in excess of 80 adults plus children.

“This is quite understandable. However, I understand that while last orders are normally at 11pm there are occasions when the noise from the assembled masses becomes unacceptable.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel is due to discuss the application at Hove Town Hall on Tuesday, July 31.

Sarah Booker-Lewis is the Local Democracy Reporter for Brighton & Hove.

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