The bar’s opening has been popular with locals, but neighbours said they were being affected by noise
Plans to extend the opening hours of a South London bar have sparked noise concerns from residents.
People living near Br3wey, in Furzedown, which opened in February, said that while the business was run well by owners Cadu and Tanja Kersting, they were disturbed by noise from customers in the garden every night.
The business has applied for a new premises licence to extend the hours it can sell alcohol from 9pm to 10.30pm on Sundays to Thursdays, and from 10pm to 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The venue sells craft beer brewed by the business in Beckenham.
Objectors told Wandsworth Council’s licensing hearing on August 6 that while they supported the “superb” business and it was well run, they were negatively impacted by noise from customers. The application received 19 objections overall, along with three letters of support.
Labour councillor Leonie Cooper said that while the opening of the bar had been very popular with locals, voices coming from the garden caused issues for neighbours.
She said: “I want it to be a successful bar because I think it’s really adding something to the area, but we do need to balance that with a definite noise nuisance that is now emanating mainly from the rear garden.”
Faith, who has lived in the area for 21 years, said noise from the venue disturbed her family’s sleep and put them under strain.
She said: “We think that extending the licensing and the opening hours will only unnecessarily extend that disturbance.”
She added: “We didn’t choose to live near a bar. We are concerned about the impact on our wellbeing moving forward.”
Debbie Morey, who has lived locally for 43 years, said she opposed the extended opening hours as living near the venue was “like having… a nextdoor party every single night of the week”.
Solicitor Sarah Louise Taylor, representing the business, said the operators were responsible and wanted to make sure the bar could operator profitably. She said they were open to measures suggested by residents to reduce noise from the garden, including raising the fencing, which could also address concerns over extending the hours.
Ms Taylor said conditions on the licence would make sure the bar was managed well, including a phone number being available for locals to get in touch if there were any issues.
She said: “It’s very much, as you’ve heard, part of the community and what the operators are seeking is to maintain being part of that community and to apply for something that, ultimately, it’s a family business.
“The plan is for this to be passed down throughout generations et cetera, and ultimately not to not get on with the neighbours – it wouldn’t be in the operators’ interests to do that.”
The council’s decision on the application will be published this week.
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