The Licensing Sub-Committee met on 9 December 2010 to consider an application for a review of a premises licence for Charlie Butler at 40, High Street, Mortlake. The committee resolved to impose further conditions on the licence following an agreement reached between the licence holder and the council's Commercial Environmental Health team to address noise issues.

Charlie Butler Premises Licence Review

The Licensing Sub-Committee heard and determined an application for a review of the premises licence for Charlie Butler, located at 40 High Street, Mortlake. This review was initiated by the council's Commercial Environmental Health team due to noise concerns.

An agreement was reached between the premises licence holder and an officer from the Commercial Environmental Health team to resolve the noise issues. Subject to the Sub-committee's approval, new conditions will be imposed on the premises licence once the necessary work is completed.

The agreed further conditions include:

• External Area Use: No use of the external area is permitted after 11:00 PM, except for smokers who may use the front area. No drinks in open containers are to be taken outside after 11:00 PM.
• Live and Recorded Music: Music is only permitted between Monday to Friday from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM, and Saturday to Sunday from 12:00 PM to 11:30 PM.
• Music Noise Limiter: A music noise limiter device must be installed and set by a qualified acoustic consultant. This device will control the power supply to amplified music to ensure specific noise criteria are met. An acoustic report will be required to demonstrate compliance.

The noise criteria are detailed as follows:

• Up to 11:00 PM: For entertainment premises adjacent to noise-sensitive properties, the A-weighted equivalent continuous noise level (LAeq) emanating from the site, measured one metre from any façade of a noise-sensitive premises, should not increase by more than 5 dB compared to the ambient noise level. The unweighted equivalent noise level (Leq) in the 63Hz Octave band should also show no increase under the same conditions.
• After 11:00 PM: For all entertainment premises, the LAeq should not increase by more than 3 dB compared to the ambient noise level. The Leq in the 63Hz Octave band should also show no increase.

Works undertaken to address noise control include:

• Patio Doors: The left-hand patio doors will be blocked up, and the right-hand doors will be upgraded with acoustic laminate glazing and acoustic seals. Switches will be fitted to cut off the power supply to amplification if the doors are opened during regulated entertainment.
• Extraction Vents: Two vents will be filled with concrete blocks, and the remaining vent will be fitted with an inline silencer.
• Fire Place: A baffle will be built and used during regulated entertainment.
• Ceiling: Additional mass will be added to the ceiling at the southern end of the premises.
• External Area: Close-board fencing will be installed where the existing hazel fence is located.

A noise limiter will be set to achieve the LBRuT noise control criteria, and an acoustic report detailing all measures and compliance results will be provided. The Sub-committee requested a revised licensing plan showing the changes to the patio doors.

Councillor Bill Treble, Chairman of the Sub-committee, commended the Commercial Environmental Health officer for their efforts in reaching a satisfactory conclusion and welcomed the proposed measures. James Anderson from Poppleston-Allen Solicitors represented the applicant, Youngs Brewery, accompanied by Mr J. Miller, the area manager, and Mr C. Mallett, the licence holder. An officer from Richmond Council's Commercial Environmental Health Team also spoke as a Responsible Authority.