Shisha bar's licensing appeal rejected after 'extreme noise' complaints (original) (raw)

A Jewellery Quarter 'shisha bar' at the centre of late-night noise complaints has had its appeal thrown out and told it must not carry out any "licensable activities". Jewels Lounge had its licence revoked earlier this year following noise complaints.

Residents living near the Pitsford Street venue complained loud music was coming from the venue at unsociable hours. One resident claimed the noise was impacting his mental health.

He claimed music on Sunday nights would not finish “earlier than midnight" - despite the venue's music licence only running until 11pm. The resident claimed noise was "extreme" and "you can’t escape it".

The bar lodged an appeal with the council's licence committee in response to the decision but this was rejected in late September. It was told it must not carry out any licensable activities - which includes selling alcohol, late-night refreshments and carrying out 'regulated entertainment'.

Birmingham City Council said enforcement action would be taken if licensable activities continued. The authority added that Environmental Health would step in if the venue continued to be a "noise nuisance".

"If they were found to be carrying on licensable activities despite their appeal being dismissed, then licensing would look to take enforcement action," a spokesperson for the authority said. "If they continue to cause a noise nuisance, environmental health would look to take action.

"Both areas work closely together and will monitor the situation to ensure the appropriate action is taken."

Licensing lawyer Duncan Craig, speaking on behalf of the venue before the bar's appeal was thrown out, said one of the issues with his clients was “a lack of understanding on their part as to what the framework of the licence is.”

He added: "I think the existence of the Live Music Act has perhaps muddied the waters for them. I have spoken to them and explained what they can and cannot do. Their instructions to me is that this is a restaurant and they’re seeking to operate it along those lines going forward.”

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