Complaints result in restrictions on pub
COUNCILLORS have ordered a city pub to turn its music off by 11pm after residents complained of repeated noise disturbance.
The Showman, in Cowick Street, had its licence reviewed by city councillors yesterday.
The pub, which recently changed hands, has been the subject of an environmental health investigation following reports of noise coming from inside and outside it.
Councillors had the option of shutting down the pub, suspending its licence, removing the management or prohibiting an activity at the premises.
Following the review yesterday, the committee asked the pub's management to ensure that entertainment noise did not exceed a certain level and that any music should be stopped by 11pm.
The new owners claimed the complaints were made before they took over the pub, and said they were co-operating with police and environmental health officers.
David and Melanie Layfield took over the running of The Showman at the start of April.
Bob Norley, head of environmental health services at Exeter City Council, said: "The complaints have been to do with a number of issues. Noise from the jukebox and events like karaoke have been transmitting through the pub to adjoining residential properties.
"There has also been disturbance with people congregating outside the premises.
"A number of the complaints were received before the changeover in management, but there have still been some problems.
"Environmental health officers have investigated the complaints of noise and we have used sound-recording devices, evidence of which will be presented at the licensing hearing."
Chair of the licensing sub-committee Councillor Rob Newby said: "The pub is going to make some extensive changes with the establishment to make it more neighbour-friendly.
"It was an agreeable outcome to the meeting."
A spokeswoman from Exeter City Council said: "Between the request to review The Showman pub's licence and the committee meeting, the council's environmental health officers and the pub's licensees have discussed measures to address the problems raised.
"The licensing committee considered these conditions, and agreed that they would be appropriate.
"It is now for the licensee to adopt the measures to continue to retain the licence.
"Measures include carrying out acoustic works before any more entertainments are held — and that, even when this has been done, music must stop by 11pm."
No one from The Showman was available to comment.
24 Comments
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by Jimmy, Exeter
Thursday, June 17 2010, 12:43AM
“down with karaoke. why cant we have the good old days when we could go to an urban local and have a dj playing banging tunes all night and bosh a bucket full of pills and powders until 9am and then everyone goes to the beach for a well earned sleep. its more exciting to watch the 9 o'clock news these days, no wonder all the pubs are going bust.”
by unhappymac, Exeter
Saturday, June 12 2010, 12:31PM
“nobody in there right mind would drink
in the gables unless you have lived on
Newman road all your life and have
achieved sweet fa in life you will not
be welcome”
by Kieran, Exeter
Saturday, June 12 2010, 11:24AM
“The Showman doesn't seem like such a bad pub really. I've walked past there many times and never had a problem. If they're going to close any pub down, make it the Green Gables. Not only is it an unsightly and tatty eyesore, but I've seen and heard of plenty of people getting verbally and physically abused by drunken morons leaving that place. One bloke came out of there and smashed the illuminated taxi sign from the roof of a taxi stopped at the traffic lights, then grabbed it and ran off too. Very odd behaviour.”
by unhappymac, Exeter
Saturday, June 12 2010, 11:10AM
“I remember when the satans slaves owned that pub there was never any trouble or people starting on anyone as they knew what they would get it was unfair really because when there was any trouble in cowick street the slaves always got the blame and it had nothing to do with them .I cant understand why anybody would want to drink around cowick street as the pubs around this area are complete crap and as for Andrews he was a bully and a trouble maker the bloke who broke his jaw I did buy him a pint”
by MARTHA, Devon
Saturday, June 12 2010, 9:17AM
“I wish Debbie would come back
I miss the bingo and the social side.”
by Kelly Woodgate, Exeter
Saturday, June 12 2010, 8:24AM
“In response to
S Bennelick
The Showman is still a rough Pub full of
Sex starved men who look like something out of Deliverance.
As for the Women they seem to be permantly Incoherent,which is just as well as four letter words seem to dominate their vocubulary.
Yes of course i know who Dave & Mel are i live in St Thomas not the moon. But i have no desire to drink in any of the Pubs or Cider houses dotted around St thomas.
The Showman was rough when the Andrews were running it and IT IS STILL ROUGH.
Kelly”
by The Nuclear Family, St Thomas
Friday, June 11 2010, 10:43PM
“Maybe they could turn it into some sort of adult literacy centre - clearly it is needed in St Thomas.”
by S.Bennellick, Exeter
Friday, June 11 2010, 5:14PM
“I would like to respond to Kelly Woodgates comments about the current owners not being to blame for the problems. You seem to have very strange opinions which contradict each other. In your first post you support Gemma who has a very strong opinion for someone who "just walks past sometimes" and also you talk about the behaviour of the clientele and how bad the pub is but on the next post support the current tenants and even name them? Make up your mind Kelly, and believe me, there were certainly no fights like the ones being reported during the previous tenants reign, so get your facts correct before casting aspersions at people you obviously do not know. They were very choosy about the people allowed to drink in their pub and they stood for no nonsense, maybe this is why you didn't drink in there yourself??”
by Clive, st thomas
Friday, June 11 2010, 4:43PM
“ive drunk in the pub for many years
And yep it was a bike pub called the road house Karen
Paul Andrews is a great bloke
And Debbie was more than A Land lady she was some one you could confide in more like a mother figure.
So Jemma leave it out.”
by Karen, Wellington
Friday, June 11 2010, 4:26PM
“Did iT USED to be a biker pub
CAN ANYONE TELL ME.”