Make Some Noise: Kent publican under sound-war siege

Bob Mitchell said he has been “inundated” with complaints about noise from live music and charity events at the venue since residents moved into a new housing estate opposite his pub in December.

He said locals have hijacked a planning application he submitted for a caravan site in his garden to publish “insulting” comments about the pub online. He said since then he has had visits from licensing and environmental health officers and police who warned him about sound levels and told him he could be subject to a noise abatement notice.

He added that they installed a recording device in his pub and said noise could still be heard past 11pm, which breaches his licence conditions. However, Mitchell has maintained that the sound recorded was from customers’ voices and said while the pub is licensed until 1.30am he chooses to call last orders at 11.30pm.

He is now considering taking legal action against the commentators he calls “malicious keyboard warriors who have hidden behind curtains” to complain about the pub. Mitchell, who bought the 11-year lease of the George Inn from a private owner in 2012, said: “We feel we are under siege. It’s a complete attack on this business and yet the council are pandering to these residents.

“The pub is 700 years old and has a history of hosting music and running events for decades. Without music in the pub we might as well shut our doors.

“We’ve spoken of giving up the business due to the complaints but why should we? We don’t deserve this campaign of hate against us.”

A spokeswoman from Canterbury City Council said: “The council received a number of complaints about the George Inn in Chartham relating to loud music from live performances.

“Council officers spent time with the landlord to work with him to help him avoid the problems in future and visited on a number of occasions to offer assistance.

“We have not served a formal notice on the owner of the pub at this point, but will keep the situation under review and if necessary take action if the noise occurs in future.”

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