A popular Ryde hotspot is taking the Isle of Wight Council to court after the authority refused its application to stay open until the small hours.
Harbour House, on Ryde Esplanade, has tried twice in 18 months to extend its premises licence.
It was successful in September 2020 but only granted an extra half hour.
In March this year, the restaurant applied to stay open, sell alcohol and play music even later, until 01:30, 7 days a week.
After hearing from licensing officers and concerned neighbours, the Isle of Wight Council’s licensing committee rejected the potential extension. It is this decision Harbour House is appealing and to do so requires the matter to be determined by magistrates.
The first listing of the appeal was heard yesterday at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court, in Newport, and a date was set for a hearing, where evidence from both sides would be given and the magistrates would make a ruling.
In his appeal of the council’s decision, Karl Harding, from Harbour House, argued the application was misrepresented due to evidence submitted to the licensing committee. It is said the evidence given was for a separate event run on a temporary event notice, not the current trading licence.
The event in question was in July last year, for which the venue received a formal written notice, with the threat of further enforcement action, after causing ‘significant disturbance’ to local residents.
The council’s committee heard how the event had a bass level, recorded at a nearby property at 01:00, higher than that recorded at the closest residential property to the Isle of Wight Festival.
The extension to licence was hoped to the help the business grow, Mr Harding said, as well as improving facilities for customers. However, the committee felt it had been persuaded by the evidence that no conditions could be applied to mitigate the harm caused.
Speaking at the court yesterday, Edward Elton, on behalf of the authority, said it opposes the appeal.
The case will be heard by magistrates on 18th August.
Unfortunately their reputation goes before them. They don’t keep the music to the required level and upset the neighbours who have to live and listen to the noise.
An awfully noisy venue. We can hear it and the less decent clientele as they stagger home.
I hope the opening hours are reduced.
Should be grateful it’s got an existing license.
I hope they lose and get the court costs awarded against them. Noise pollution is vile, and something this venue is good at causing.
They need to get new or better staff, took one girl nearly 20 mins to make 2 cocktails! didnt bother getting another drink, this was the second time we,ve been there and it hasn,t improved, lots of out of control loud drunks as well, (it was only 7pm) shame really as its a nice spot, just not quite got it right tho, prob not a good idea to extend the hours either and im no shrinking violet
Sadly many of the customers go there solely to drink, a lot, and get very loud, loud music , makes people speak louder, more alcohol makes people forget where they are, and no one really that can control them. Then the problem of litter and glass strewn about. Maybe it will be cleaned up in beginning, but as time passes the cleaning will be missed out.. again.. broken glass, crisp packets, cigarette butts, and puke, and piss all sitting on the deck.. wonder how many things get thrown into the Marina… ?? Who controls that, and what’s the penalty for doing so ??? Named and shamed on CCTV maybe ?Just soft background music, it is not a disco.
Just another company with Greed not care…
Totally agree money and that’s it don’t think apath were kids walk and aplace selling alcohol work especially near a kids funfair
Too all the people who want this to shutdown. Because of the NIMBY lot always saying to no to all and any development, this island’s only way to earn a living is through tourism. This is the result of saying no to all other attempts at creating a stable economy on the island. Well done NIMBY lot, you made the bed, time to lay in it. This is your fault.
Im definately no nimby, i love nothing more than a cocktail with a view on a sunny saturday eve, but there is something definately off with this place, they need to get a grip on the clientele they admit.. they really do, there are no tourists visiting there, just a load of mouthy chavvy locals that spoil it, like i said it is a lovely spot and its done out really nice, other places in Ryde dont seem to have this problem?
Absolutely one of the best places to go on the island for cocktails sat outside and listening to music! Makes no difference to the location it is in as there are sooo many events held down that area of Ryde! Jack up the 80s for example only a few weeks ago! There was loud music, kids and adults drinking and there were even fights in the middle of the day with grown men!
Harbour house are asking for an extension of their license over the summer! Before we know it it’s going to be rainy winter again so why not enjoy the island sat outside having a drink in the sun with friends and music. Especially coming out of multiple lock downs!
God this place is so behind the times!!!
We have 1club for the entire island. This is right on the sea front..
what are people supposed to get excited about and have a place they can go?
It’s bad enough everything shuts Early over here ie shops, buses, ferries.
You have pubs and music with many properties all down the high street. This is facing the sea.
Not everyone who resides here are in their 80s and people should be able to get excited and have a night out.
No wonder suicide rates and depression are so high over here and why the crime rate is increasing.