Bar to close earlier after 'woman's bed vibrates'

A bar must close earlier following noise complaints, with a woman describing the bass from music as "so powerful" she could "feel the vibrations" in her bed.

Bridgetown Monroe in Bucklersbury, Hitchin, had previously been able to play music until 02:00 on Friday and Saturday nights.

But following several complaints, this has been curtailed to midnight, after North Herts Council's licensing committee cut its hours.

A noise abatement notice served in February was not appealed, and its owner apologised to residents.

A licensing hearing for the venue on 6 November heard that DJ nights were allowed once a month under the bar's noise management plan, but were instead taking place every Friday and Saturday night.

Owner Christopher Dodd told councillors that operating after midnight at weekends was "what keeps the business open".

He apologised to residents who had been disturbed and said that since receiving complaints he had removed a subwoofer and speakers, installed vibration-reducing wall stands, installed a decibel-reading meter, ended Friday DJ nights and ended Saturday DJ nights at half past midnight.

He called for the council to bring in conditions requiring DJ nights to end at half past midnight, with background music permitted until 02:00.

But Alan Stone, an environmental health officer, said that over the past two weekends, music had been "clearly audible" until 02:00 in nearby flats.

One resident told the hearing he had previously lived above bars and restaurants without issues, but said there was bass music and shouting "almost every Friday and Saturday" since he had moved in.

"Despite buying noise-reducing earplugs, sleep is impossible at a reasonable time while the bar is playing music," he said.

"We both work full-time, and the lack of sleep has a compounding negative effect on every avenue of our lives."

Another woman who used to live close to the bar said: "At times, the bass is so powerful that I could physically feel the vibrations within my flat. My bed would actually vibrate.

"I regularly had to wear earplugs to sleep and, on many weekends, felt that I needed to leave my own home simply to get some peace."

The meeting also heard from supporters of the bar, including Hitchin town centre's manager, Danny Pearson.

He did not speak at the meeting but beforehand told the council that Bridgetown Monroe were "good neighbours to the people along Bucklersbury".

He added: "For anyone complaining about noise, I'm not sure what to say other than it is a town centre … it will be lively."

Other supporters said the bar makes an "important contribution" to the town and it would be "such a loss to Hitchin to lose this incredible venue".

CCTV footage was also played to the committee, showing Dodd removing a public notice advertising the licensing meeting.

Committee chair Alistair Willoughby said councillors were "concerned" by the incident, adding it had affected their "assessment of the credibility of the evidence and the level of confidence that could be placed in the management of the premises".

On top of the reduced hours, the committee ruled that the venue's licence will be suspended for 28 days, or until its owner, Dodd, is replaced as premises supervisor.

Do you have a story suggestion for Beds, Herts or Bucks? Contact us below.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.