Brighton pub fined £1,000 over music levels

A Brighton pub was fined more than £1,000 by magistrates last week following complaints over noise levels in summer last year.

Licensee of the Geese have Gone Over the Water, Adrian McGrory, was ordered to pay a fine of £1,084 plus costs of £854 and a £15 victim surcharge.

The council first received complaints about "loud dance music, shouting, cheering and singing late into the night" at the pub in September 2009 and advised McGrory that formal action may be taken if more complaints were received.

"Many complaints" were received, mainly from two nearby residents, and on 28 October 2009 an abatement notice was served following four warning letters and two phone calls from the council.

The notice required an abatement of loud amplified music and people shouting and cheering.

This was breached on 2 July this year when the council's noise patrol was called to a nearby flat at 23.10pm and judged the noise level to be too loud.