Live music leads to £500 hit for pub

A pub has been forced to pay out more than £500 in fines and costs after residents said they were being kept awake by live music.

Licensee Frank Carty of the Prince of Wales pub in Kentish Town, North London has been ordered by to pay a total of £548 - including a £133 fine, £400 costs and a £15 victim surcharge - after magistrates decided he had flouted a noise abatement notice.

The pub had been prohibited from allowing excessive noise from music or social activity to be heard outside the pub - but residents complained the music was so loud that individual words of songs could be heard in neighbouring properties.

Camden Council decided to prosecute after concluding that Mr Carty was in breach of the notice.

Cllr Chris Knight, executive member for environment, Camden Council, said:"I am pleased action has been taken against the owner of the premises, whose failure to comply with noise regulations caused suffering to local residents.

"I hope this sends out a warning to others that the council will take action against anyone causing a nuisance by generating excessive noise."

• The Publican has recently launched the Listen Up! campaign to celebrate live music in pubs.