A Cowes pub has had its music licence extended despite a neighbour’s objection bringing it before an Isle of Wight Council committee.
The Vectis Tavern on Cowes High Street has been granted permission by the authority to play music until 01:30 Monday to Saturdays, 00:30 on Sundays and 02:00 on special days such as Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.
While applying for the licence though, the applicants said it was only being done to allow flexibility as the Tavern is still open at that time and this will allow, in some instances, background music to play or late-arriving music acts to continue playing their full set.
One objector, however, said music from the pub was already so loud they could not sleep and large groups of people outside, late at night, displayed anti-social behaviour. They also said guests of a holiday property they owned had also been disturbed by noise on the street and believed the granting of the licence would ‘severely affect’ their business.
Officers said the objector knew the proceedings were happening on Monday at a meeting of the Isle of Wight Council’s licensing sub-committee but did not show up, with the last known complaint against the Vectis Tavern submitted to Environmental Health in 2017. This complaint was not upheld.
Speaking at the meeting, for the Vectis, Anne Cook said issues of anti-social behaviour that occurred on the High Street were often falsely attributed to the premises as she runs a very tight ship.
Mrs Cook said they have always had a robust approach to dealing with noise and anti-social behaviour, including employing door staff who controlled crowds and let groups in and out of the premises. She said:
“I can only stress we are a high street location and if you are expecting to hear no noise at all [on the High Street] you are booked in the wrong location.”
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Footage was shown of premises around the Vectis Tavern on the first weekend of June, where large groups had gathered and were said to be shouting, laughing and chanting.
Mrs Cook said at times like that they took action immediately, as they were ‘extremely responsible and flexible’, but people were accountable for their own actions once they left the premises and go up the High Street but it was hard to control with the pub ‘taking the rap’ for the majority of premises.
Questioned on how often music would be played that late by chair of the committee, Councillor Daryll Pitcher, Mrs Cook said they had no intention of doing so on a regular basis but maybe only once a week, ‘if that’.
Members of the committee remarked noise was already present in that area of Cowes and granted the extended music licence as it stood with an additional condition that the noise management plan, as submitted within the application, be adhered to.
Typical, “I don’t care about the residents…” attitude, from the pub owners. The council make it so impossible to complain, you have to “monitor and log” any noise disturbances for 2 weeks at least, if you are complaining, then you probably have had enough by then anyway. I bet there are no “Please be quiet when you leave.” signs up either. Friendly with the council or local parish councillor are they. ???
Ah yes, Jack, but the ‘neighbours’ are all landlords who rent to the hollibobs sort who will be in the pub till all hours in their Mae West lifebelts, shouting loudly about the yachts they’d like but don’t have. No regard from the ‘neighbours’ who don’t live here for Island families who do…. Just. If they can afford to live anywhere in the place they were born!
I genuinely feel sorry for anyone living there – 1:30am on a daily basis a ridiculous time. Both your mental and physical health is in jeopardy. I know you could move, but shouldn’t have to. Who’d buy a flat in the vicinity anyway, not me. This has seriously devalued any residential property within possibly 1/4-1/2 mile.
anyone sat in a pub at 0100 on a weekday is nothing more than a degenerate drunk anyway.
Please specify the hours and days when it is perfectly acceptable to self medicate with a dangerous known poison. I love booze, but your comment confuees me. Regards, Lady Dunstanding.
“Members of the committee remarked noise was already present in that area of Cowes”
Well that’s alright then! If you see a dog fouling just let your dog foul on top of it, who cares!!
Shock, horror, only one resident complained and then could not even be bothered to turn up! And the poor little holiday home owners/renters can’t sleep,. Don’t live on the high street in the middle of a popular seaside town in peak season then! And what bs about devaluing properties 1/2 a mile away! I some times find it hard not to be embarrassed by so many stupid and selfish so called “islanders” talking utter nonsense on a constant bases!!!!
Oh goody, more late night Street fights outside here! I worked for a while on the Taxi rank outside M&S and it livened up a work shift when it kicked off outside the Vectis: police, ambulances etc…
is it really a tight ship there?
It’s seems apparent from the names and comments here that you are either vexatious or jealous. So coward not put real names to what you say. I think the comments are obviously from rodents that have probably been barred from the place!! Seriously who wants to listen to anyone called Dusty Fanny or Jack from his box. Small minded nonsense! Blah blah !
Lol, I hear you sister! X