Starting Gate granted extended licence

The Speen pub will be able to offer facilities for late night entertainment, including live music and dancing

A CONTROVERSIAL application for the extension of the opening hours at the Starting Gate pub in Speen has been approved.

Following the permission granted by West Berkshire Council, the pub in Brummell Road will be able to offer facilities for late-night entertainment, including live music, karaoke and dancing.

The decision comes despite fierce opposition from neighbours, who said they would be disturbed by noise from the premises.

During a licensing sub-committee meeting held on August 12, one of the pub's neighbours, Catherine Pavier, of Brummell Road, told the publicans: “Some of your clients are like wailing banshees when they are outside smoking. It drives us mad!”

Following the meeting, Speen Parish Council chairwoman Meg John, who also opposed the application, said: “We are very disappointed. We raised concerns in our comments that the extension would really just exacerbate the noise problems for the local residents and we were particularly concerned about the dancing, because we felt that if people were allowed to dance, the music just gets louder.”

But the landlady of the Starting Gate, Claire Seymour, said she hoped there was no bad blood between the parties: “I hope those who opposed the scheme would all stop by at the pub, in fact, they can come and have a drink on me.

“The pub is at the centre of Speen and I want to put it at the centre of the community as well, so if neighbours have any problems with noise, they are welcome to contact me any time.”

The pub may now remain open until midnight on Sunday to Thursday and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

To prevent public nuisance, conditions were imposed on the pub, namely that all doors and windows at the pub be closed at 11pm and that clear signs be displayed at all entrances and exits in the garden requesting that customers respect neighbours and keep noise down.