London officials crack down on pub after neighbor complains of noise and laughter: ‘Woke me up again’

A pub in central London has been hit with a list of new noise rules – after a neighbor complained the sound of “laughter” was keeping them up.

The Globe, located near Baker Street station, was pulled before Westminster’s Licensing Committee after a local applied to have its closing time changed from 12am to 11pm.

Official documents show the resident complained about patrons continuing to hang out outside the bar after closing time – with “constant murmuring” and “occasional laughter” said to keep them awake.

And now, following a review by Westminster’s Licensing Committee, the pub will have to adhere to some new conditions.

These include setting up a “publicly available” manager “hotline” – and ensuring all patrons drinking outside are “supervised” and behave in an “orderly manner”.

In their application, the resident submitted a series of WhatsApp messages between themselves and the pub manager as evidence for the commission to consider.

In an exchange on March 15, they wrote at 12:04 a.m.: “Could you send people out of the bar. They’re making too much noise. Thanks.”

The manager replied, “I’ll go over to continue them. Sorry.”

However, the resident texted him again at 12:21: “I hate to bother you again. They are still laughing and making a lot of noise.”

Meanwhile, in a conversation dated March 27, the resident wrote at 12:00: “They are not being distributed and [there is] too much noise in the apartment.

“Here we have to find a solution. This is not okay.

“They are now shouting ‘happy birthday'”.

The manager said the team were “moving them as best we can and told them to be quiet” – but the resident replied: “This is happening all too often.

“They woke me up again. They are still making a lot of noise.”

The Globe faced Westminster’s Licensing Committee on November 7 and has been told that the “conditions” of its license have been modified while a “Fully Reasoned Decision” is made.

The pub has been told to keep a “register of complaints” from residents – which must be made available for “inspection” by a police officer and/or an authorized officer of Westminster City Council.

It has also been ordered to draw up an “external area management plan” for all employees – as well as a “dispersal policy” that ensures customers “leave the area quickly and quietly”.

Meanwhile, a “direct telephone number” for the manager must be available to all residents – and any teenagers socializing in the yard must be “properly supervised by staff to ensure there is no public nuisance”.

Finally, the pub has been reminded that loudspeakers should not be placed at the entrance or exit of the building – or outside.

No date has yet been set for when the ‘Full Reasoned Decision’ will be made, but the Westminster Licensing Committee advised that all parties could appeal.

If the committee sides with the resident, the pub could have its licensing hours shortened.