Harbour House’s dreams of opening until the early hours have been shattered by the Isle of Wight Council after its licence committee was told how one event made their windows and furniture shake.
The seaside venue, located on Ryde Esplanade, wanted to extend its opening times, supply of alcohol and playing of recorded music until 01:30, 7 days a week, but the application has been rejected.
Harbour House had already received a formal written notice, with the threat of further enforcement action, after an event in July ’caused significant disturbance’ to local residents.
Measures were proposed to mitigate any impact of the extensions — which had been approved by Hampshire Constabulary — but did not help.
Karl Harding, from Harbour House, told the council’s licensing sub-committee meeting customers often ask why it closes at 23:00 compared to other establishments in the town, which stay open until 02:00. He said the licence extension would improve facilities for customers; helping grow the successful business in an area that needed it.
However, environmental health officer, Daniel Power, told the committee about an event last year which saw bass levels at a nearby property at 01:00 recorded higher than those at the residential property nearest to the Isle of Wight Festival. They were also higher than what would be deemed a significant disturbance at a concert.
Mr Power said the business was visited 3 times by council officers, each time reiterating what had previously been said, despite logs showing the levels had been adjusted.
Residents objected to the application, saying on the night of the event, their children could not sleep and others tried to escape the noise. One said it was like facing a 13-hour endurance test, while another said the extension would be okay if they could trust Harbour House to stick to the licence’s conditions.
Another said music on a regular basis would have a detrimental effect on their lives. They said:
“I appreciate the Island is a holiday Island, but it is not Ibiza, which is what I think Harbour House is trying to do.”
Mr Harding admitted mistakes had been made last year but told the committee he would like to work with the authority to come up with a solution to create a venue that would become more popular, which would only be good for Ryde.
The application was rejected as the committee said it had been persuaded by the evidence that no conditions could be applied to mitigate the harm caused.
Harbour House is able to appeal the decision to the IW Magistrates’ Court within 21 days should it wish to do so.
Excellent news. Heartily sick and tired of noise pollution.
Especially when it is totally un-necessary and purely driven by someone’s greed for profit !
It’s called capitalism, don’t like it move to Russia.
like it, move to Magaluf, plenty of choice there
Yes, how dare they run a business at a popular tourist location for the benefit of the local job market. If you don’t like busy tourist attractions bringing money to the local economy then move. It’s an island, we need these attractions to bring jobs and money. If not expect even more benefit scroungers getting drunk and taking drugs on the street. That is what happens when you destroy the local job market with all your NIMBY complaining.
Wow, good shout Fred.
We need more of these types of establishments, the venue is on a prom, in the middle of a tourist town.
There is more than plenty of quite residential roads across the island, the nimbys are living in the wrong place. End of.
Have you read the reviews for this place on Tripadvisor? This business is clearly very badly run. According to Google and other websites it is not even open at this time of year. If he wants to make more money why not run it properly and open it all year.
I still don’t understand why he can’t stay open till late without the music.
Pis*ed up revelers turning out at God knows what hour of the morning. Decent people would be trying to sleep because they have work in the morning. Obviously those attending do not.
No, because they are on holiday,
Derrr….
This is actually a sensible suggestion. If the owner had applied to extend the drinking hours, no music, he might have got it approved. But, unfortunately, with the previous complaints about his establishment, drinking hours extension AND loud music was always going to be a non starter.
Perhaps Mr Harding should expend more effort keeping his clientele from annoying local residents and, if he shows he can act responsibly on that front for a while, come back again for an extension of drinking hours some time in the future.
Good decision – arrogant man that thinks he can play music at a ridiculously loud volume and to hell with the locals enjoyment of their homes.
His sole interest is to sell as much alcohol as he can with no regard for the residents who suffer the noise and drunken behaviour of his “customers”, during lockdown he bent every rule he could to make money and got away with it.
I live in the strand and can hear it from there! Some of have to get up for work in the morning! Selfish man;
You know it’s going to be a Bad Day when Daniel Powter is on the case.
What a bunch of killjoys,
This is a tourist island and not an old peoples home island.
Greed for profit should not be a reason to be allowed to ruin other peoples lives. I pity the residents nearby.
If any establishment fails to comply with existing legislation on any single future occasion it should have it’s licence revoked, end of.
The right of people to live in peace in their own homes is far more important than totally unnecessary noise pollution, excessive alcohol consumption and the risk of disorder as a result of these factors just so that someone can make profit .
what about the loud racket caused by the festival making the windows shake in the Hospise
In all honesty in this climate they couldn’t sustain 7 days a week of 2am closing anyway. Sounds like a death knell sour grapes of a failing business.
A good decision not to allow this dive to get an extended licence. Noise is pollution, though some would disagree.