“You just can’t do anything indoors”: Resident hits out at Great Bowden pub over noise concerns

Patricia Richards lives opposite the Red Lion and says the noise has become increasingly disruptive since the spring, particularly during Friday and Saturday evening events.

She said: “You just can’t do anything indoors, even with the windows closed on a Friday or a Saturday night.

“The pub itself, it has an open garden, and so the sound carries a long way, and it just goes on until late at night.”

The pub did not respond to the Harborough Mail’s request for comment.

​Harborough District Council said it is investigating whether the pub complied with its licence conditions.

​Council records show the pub has a licence for both indoor and outdoor live music to be played until 12 midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. Similarly, entertainment is also permitted until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

​The resident is now calling for a better balance between the pub’s entertainment and the needs of people living nearby.

She said: “It’s just distressing, really distressing. Not just for elderly people, but for everyone who lives close by.

“It is about the balance and being more considerate of neighbours and thinking about the kind of events that would be more suitable for a residential area.

“A quieter vocalist, country music, folk music, that kind of thing would be much, much more acceptable.”

​The council has advised residents to “keep written records of how the noise affects them and submit example recordings using the Noise App”.

Officers have visited the area to witness the noise from the premises.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Several residents were emailed at the same time, and noise equipment has been installed in two properties so far.

​“The resident referred to was not previously given the noise equipment but has since been approached with a full explanation as to why this was and offered the noise equipment for the next up-and-coming event.”