A new restaurant in Cowes will be able to serve food outside until late into the evening, despite concerns from its neighbours.
The owners of The Garden, on Cowes High Street, can now get ‘more bums on seats’ by extending their service, after a licensing hearing on Friday (19th May).
Nearby residents had filed noise complaints and said background music had been constantly coming into their houses, even with the windows closed.
The Isle of Wight Council’s Environmental Health team suggested diners be allowed to sit in the garden until 21:00, while owner, Jack Anslem, argued a 22:00 cut-off time would allow them to serve more customers.
In the end, licensing committee members agreed food could be eaten in the lower garden until 22:00 and in the upper garden area until 23:00.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Anslem described it as a sit-down, fine dining establishment, not a drinking service. He said the restaurant needs the seats, especially in the Summer, to bring in money to keep the business going over winter, allowing it to retain staff.
Council officers said there needed to be a balance between the reasonable expectation of commercial noise and its impact on residents.
Mr Anslem said steps had already been taken to lower noise levels, including turning outdoor speakers down and adding signs to remind customers about the neighbours. Extra screening is planned.
Objectors said The Garden has been quieter recently but they wanted to put their concerns on the record.
The licensing committee said if there are more problems over the Summer, an application could be made for the licence to be reviewed.
Let’s say it again to the nimby’s – businesses need to be allowed to operate in commercial areas. Next they’ll be complaining the high street is dead – that or they’ll turn it into more holiday homes.
10pm is great time in summer here in the south to start your dinner and eat slowly for 2-3 hours, Mediterranean style!
The solution is easy live with it, you have chosen to live on or near to a High Street in compact but popular holiday and sailing centre, it does not take a rocket scientist to work out it might not be the quietest place on earth to live.
It should be vibrant and bustling with people enjoying themselves all year round but unfortunately not, so it’s a case of make the most of it when you can to survive.