Worried Allestree residents fear noise and trouble over Woodlands Hotel pub's bid to open later
Worried residents in Allestree have objected to a pub’s plans for later opening hours – expressing fears over noise and trouble.
A Derby City Council general licensing sub committee hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, December 12 to discuss proposals to extend the opening times and other licensable activities at the Woodlands Hotel pub on Blenheim Parade.
According to licensing documents the pub can currently open from 7am to 12.30am Monday to Sunday.
But new documents on the city council’s website show an application has been submitted to vary and extend the premise licences’ opening hours and the times it can sell alcohol and show live sport indoors.
There are several people who live close to the pub unhappy about the plans. Derby City Council says it has received 22 objections to the application. Some claim they have seen fights around the pub and anti-social behaviour, disrupting their home life.
Owners of the pub, the Craft Union Pub Company, want the flexibility to open between 7am and 1.30am between Thursday and Sunday. The pub company wants to be able to sell alcohol until 1am during these days and show sport inside at these times.
The pub states in its application form: “In consultation with the EP team and police licensing team we are requesting to amend the licensable hours of the Woodlands Hotel by one hour bringing the terminal hour for alcohol and LNR (late night refreshment) to 1am with a premises closed to the public by 1.30am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only. We would also wish to include the activity of indoor sporting events to align with these times.”
One resident said: “As a resident of a property directly adjacent to the Woodlands pub, the granting of this application will have a significant impact on the quality of life, health and well-being of myself and my family. With the change of focus more recently to being a sports bar with live music, there have been a number of Friday and Saturday nights where live music has gone on to midnight at a level that has woken up my wife and two of my children causing upset and distress.
“I am also concerned that the change in licensing hours will further change the pub from being a local community pub to a drive-to venue for those looking for additional places to go in Derby when other premises close.”
Another resident said: “This proposal will have a significant detrimental impact on the surrounding community. There have been numerous issues with the pub in recent years which we have reported to local councillors. For example: anti-social behaviour, fighting in the car park, glasses smashed on pavements, cars leaving the car park racing up and down.
“This pub is located in a residential suburb of the city, surrounded by houses. This is not a city centre location. These opening hours would attract even more people to the area when other local pubs have closed for the night.”
Councillors chairing the meeting must decide whether crucial licensing objectives can be met by the granting of the proposal. These objectives include: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.
The Craft Union Pub Company states in its application that to prevent a public nuisance outside areas would not be used beyond 11pm “save for persons temporarily permitted to smoke” and that “notices shall be prominently displayed near all exits from the premises requesting all patrons to leave quietly with consideration for neighbours”.
The pub also stated its intention to implement a noise management plan and that “outside areas shall be monitored and regularly cleared of glasses and bottles”.
The licensing hearing is scheduled to take place at 10am on Thursday, December 12. It may be streamed on the city council’s YouTube channel.