Outside drinking ban pub lodges appeal

A London pub which has been banned from allowing outside drinking after 6pm is lodging an appeal against the decision this week.

The Endurance in Berwick Street, Soho, was hit with the ban by Westminster City Council, along with 11 other licence conditions after complaints about noise from residents.

Another condition means smokers will only be permitted to light up at the back of the pub after 6pm.

But Julian Skeens of Jeffrey Green Russell solicitors, representing the pub, said the action was "disproportionate", which would be the basis for the appeal.

He said just one "serial complainer" had forced the hearing.

"The fact of the matter is people like drinking outside," he said.

Cllr Daniel Astaire, cabinet member for Community Protection, said: "Unfortunately we have had continued problems with this particular pub and our environmental health officers found that the complaints of noise were entirely justified.

"We have tried to work with the pub to resolve this problem on several occasions and we regret that this review was necessary."

As a result of the action, rumours had surfaced that the council was pushing to ban outside drinking throughout the borough.

And more than 7,000 people had signed a petition on the 10 Downing Street website objecting to the proposal.

But the council has strongly denied it has plans to ban outside drinking.

It added that Downing Street had acknowledged the petition was wrong and informed all the signatories.

The Endurance licence review was the 30th carried out by Westminster Council under the current licensing laws.