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From the
https://www.bexleytimes.co.uk By Tom Bull, 25 July 2019.
Sidcup pub’s licence to be reviewed after monthly noise complaints.
Numerous complaints have been made about noise at The Charcoal pub,
Main Road, Sidcup. Picture: Google.
A popular pub in Sidcup is to have its licence reviewed after
monthly complaints from frustrated neighbours over excessive noise
and nuisance patrons.
Nobody had complained about the Charcoal in Main Road, for several
years until it changed management in 2016.
Neighbours now routinely complain about nuisance and noise coming
from the pub's patrons, according to council documents.
On nearly a monthly basis, complaints are made about noise,
primarily coming from the lively garden, inspectors said.
Inspectors have also now raised concern about the pub's dispersal
policy, with drunk pub-goers left to make their own way home without
any management.
At a licence committee meeting on Thursday, August 1, councillors
will consider reducing the pub's licence, imposing conditions on it
or even stripping it altogether.
On Sunday, May 5, the pub was advertising an all-day event.
Following a tip off by a neighbour, one inspector spotted a good
opportunity to visit ahead of a meeting with management later that
week.
Turning up at 10.30pm, the inspector found people lingering outside
on the main road, yelling for their friends as they got into cars,
and said music could clearly be heard.
The inspector wrote in council documents: "I parked near Croft Way,
110m from the Charcoal. Amplified sound from the pub could be heard
clearly.
"I walked back towards the Charcoal and noticed a man urinating
against a hedge in Croft Way, 100m from the Charcoal."
The inspector said he saw others urinating outside and criticised
the pub's failure to control music, noise, and patrons as they left
for the night.
The pub has traded since the 1970s with few incidents until the new
management took over two years ago.
One neighbour says they have recorded excessive noise more than 100
times over the last two years.
The Charcoal has taken steps previously to appease complaints by
training staff and employing door supervision during bigger nights.
The pub, popular for its event nights, has permission to serve drink
and play music until half 10 on a Sunday, and midnight during the
week.
Councillors will consider the pub's licence at a meeting on August
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