Notting Hill pub where mobile phones are banned called out over noisy staff parties

A West London pub where mobile phones are banned has been called out over noisy staff parties taking place on its roof terrace.However several people living near the Victorian-era pub, which was refurbished in 2012, say that they are not benefiting from this supposed tranquillity.Residents, who have called for a review of the pub’s licence, told a Kensington and Chelsea Licensing Sub-Committee that staff parties and gatherings held on the roof terrace had been causing a disturbance.Legal Counsel for Samuel Smith said that he believes this is the first time a pub affiliated with the brewery has ever been called in for a licensing review.A statement by Coleville ward Councillor Jack Reason, which was read out to the sub-committee, said: “The streets around [the pub] are narrow and the homes opposite so close that what happened on that roof is effectively happening in front of people’s windows.”The Earl of Lonsdale pub in Notting HillLDRSMr Shapur Keshvari, who applied to have the licence reviewed, said there had been repeated incidents of public nuisance coming from the pub over the summer months.His review application said: “The complaint is cumulative. It concerns a recurring pattern rather than a single incident: amplified music and congregation immediately outside the pub, late-night disturbance from the beer garden or premises, and repeated afterhours occupation or continued availability of external seating.”Mr Keshvari said that he had repeatedly tried to engage with the pub, as well as contacting the council regarding these issues, to no lasting effect.Chair of the Ladbroke Association, Sophia Lambert, and Chair of The Pembridge Association, Ms Fiona Fleming-Brown, also attended the hearing in support of the application.Ms Fleming-Brown told the sub-committee that members complained about recent disturbances from The Earl throughout the summer “especially the party on the flat roof”.“The Earl is a fine old pub and residents want it to thrive but without parties on the roof outside their windows,” she added.Legal Counsel from the pub said the events staff held on the roof included a small birthday party for a chef and a film night.“We accept and it’s obvious here that staff have been socialising on the roof and causing a disturbance. We agree it is unacceptable and we apologise profusely for it,” he said.The roof terrace has now been closed off and the Designated Premises Supervisor has been issued a formal written warning, as well as being removed from that responsibility. Outdoor furniture had also been replaced so that it could be brought inside at 10pm.The pub did not agree to shutting the beer garden an hour before its closing time, although it was happy to look into adding acoustic mitigating greenery to reduce the noise.“We recognise mistakes have been made but on the whole we would say we are responsible operators,” he added.Read MoreA formal decision will be made within five working days of the licence review.