Neighbours have warned that allowing a new micro pub to open a beer garden just yards from their homes would blight their lives.

Residents in Sunnybank in Denby Dale told a licensing panel that their peace would be shattered if a beer garden holding 20 or 30 drinkers was allowed to go ahead.

The residents were backed in their objections by Kirklees Council’s Environmental Health department, which said there would likely be “intrusive levels of noise.”

The licensing panel, however, has allowed the beer garden to go ahead, though it must stop serving alcohol at 8pm.

Jonathan Ashton, who set up Bottle & Co in Mapplewell, near Barnsley, in lockdown, wants to open a second premises in a former newsagent’s shop in Wakefield Road, Denby Dale. That involves creating a beer garden in a derelict plot at the back.

At a meeting of Kirklees Council’s Licensing Panel at Huddersfield Town Hall, the new venture was described as a “modern micro pub with an intimate and friendly atmosphere.” The idea is that it will sell artisan and craft beers as a pub, off-licence and online.

The premises would need planning permission for change of use before it could go ahead, however.

 

 

Originally, Mr Ashton wanted a licence to play live and recorded music outside normal licensing hours but that was withdrawn ahead of the meeting.

The panel was told that the Mapplewell premises had never had any complaints or problems with anti-social behaviour.

However, residents whose homes are close to the new premises said plans for a beer garden with around half-a-dozen tables and up to 30 drinkers would spoil their enjoyment of their gardens and force them to keep windows shut.

Patrick Froggatt, whose home is close to an existing social club, said he already endured some noise nuisance which meant they had to keep windows closed.

“When people start drinking they are not talking to eachother, they are shouting,” he said. “We can’t sit out on a summer’s evening.”

Andrew Kellett, whose home is directly behind the shop, said the residents weren’t objecting to the business, just the beer garden.

He said there were neighbours in poor health and families with a baby and young children and added: “Half-a-dozen tables with 20 to 30 people consuming alcohol will render our back gardens useless for relaxation.

“We are not going to be able to sit out in the garden during the day because of all the noise coming over the fence.”

Neighbour George Lodge said: “We are not opposed to the opening of a bar, we are concerned about the garden space.

“The noise is going to be disruptive to a significant degree. It’s not about one person getting drunk, it’s an ensemble of voices.”

Senior environmental health officer Alexandra Garry believed the beer garden could prove a nuisance for residents and said she was dealing with another case elsewhere where an enforcement notice has had to be issued.

 

 

Nick Semper, a licensing consultant representing Mr Ashton, said the business would do everything possible to be a good neighbour and ensure any noise complaints were dealt with “fully and immediately.”

He said the objections from residents were based on “fear and speculation” and there was no evidence there would be any problems.

He told the residents: “We want to work with you guys. Being in a war with you would be very bad for business.”

In their objections, residents said there were already eight licensed premises in Denby Dale and there was no need for more.

Mr Ashton said that some of his customers already travelled from Denby Dale and surrounding villages to Mapplewell and wanted him to open a local venue.

He said one customer had bought a house in Denby Dale hoping he’d open in the village and a local pub had expressed support hoping they could work together to encourage people to socialise in the village rather than going elsewhere.

The panel, chaired by Clr Amanda Pinnock, granted a new licence with conditions. Retail sales on the premises can take place over 24 hours, Monday to Sunday, but the rear beer garden is only licensed from 10am to 8pm.

 

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