The Licensing (Premises) Sub-Committee for Buckinghamshire Council convened a meeting via video conference to address a single primary issue. The meeting's focal point was a review of the premises licence for Butlers located at 21 - 31 Frogmoor, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP13 5DQ. The review was initiated following an application under Section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Butlers, 21 - 31 Frogmoor, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP13 5DQ

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application for the review of the premises licence for Butlers, a pub with a beer garden in High Wycombe town centre.

The application for review was submitted by Edward Gamester, citing concerns over the prevention of public nuisance. According to the report pack, Mr Gamester notified the licence holder and responsible authorities as required by the Licensing Act 2003. A public notice advertising the review was displayed at the premises, at the Council's Head Office, and on Buckinghamshire Council's website, starting on 2 July 2025.

The report pack included several appendices:

• A location map of the premises.
• A copy of the current premises licence granted to Marston's PLC, including the hours for licensable activities such as the sale of alcohol (on and off the premises), recorded music, live music, provision of late-night refreshment, and performances of dance.
• Details of a minor variation application submitted on 29 August 2025, seeking to amend two current conditions and add eight new conditions, without changing licensable activities or hours.
• A copy of the review application.
• A response from the Fire and Rescue Authority, indicating no objections.
• A representation from the Local Environmental Health Authority, received on 22 July 2025.

The Licensing Officer, Kate Venables, noted that the representations raised issues such as potential breaches of licence conditions and noise nuisance affecting local residents between 23:00 and 05:00. The report pack stated that these issues had been reported to Buckinghamshire Council multiple times over many years and had been resolved informally through engagement with the premises licensee and Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), Mr Neil Patterson.

The report pack also referenced Buckinghamshire Council's adopted Licensing Policy published February 2022, and national guidance issued by the Home Office under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, as amended. These documents outline the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

The report pack also included a summary of historical noise complaints that had been made about Butlers:

a. Noise nuisance case pertaining to live and or recorded music, October 2016, matter resolved informally, ref: 16/03106/GCOMP

b. Noise nuisance case pertaining to live and or recorded music, December 2017, matter resolved informally, ref: 17/01962/NOISE

c. Noise nuisance case pertaining to live and or recorded music, April 2018, matter resolved informally, ref: 18/00589/NOISE

d. Noise nuisance case pertaining to live and or recorded music, May 2023, matter resolved informally, ref: 23/00894/NMUSIC

e. Noise nuisance case pertaining to live and or recorded music, May 2023, matter resolved informally, ref 23/00928/NMUSIC

f. Noise nuisance case pertaining to live and or recorded music, June 2023, matter resolved informally, ref: 23/01162/NMUSIC

g. Noise nuisance case pertaining to alarm sounding, December 2023, matter resolved informally, ref: 23/02475/NALARM

The Environmental Protection Team also provided a summary of noise app submissions from complainants, as well as objective measurements and subjective observations. They noted a technical breach of the premises licence in regard to Annex II condition 6.a. and 6.d. and made several recommendations, including:

• Amending Annex II section 6.a. to state that all external doors shall remain closed, during the performance of regulated entertainment, apart from immediate access and egress .
• Amending Annex II section 6.d. to state that monitoring shall be conducted during the performance of regulated entertainment. Whereby, should the volume be deemed too high that reasonable adjustment is made. This monitoring and any such reasonable adjustment made, shall be retained and made available to an officer of a responsible party upon request .
• That the premises licensee take reasonable steps to better prevent the escape of unwelcome noise from the premises and to prevent the egress of bass/low frequency noise.
• That the premises licensee take reasonable steps to prevent the egress of unwelcome noise during karaoke performances, either through engineering controls, regulation of the activity, or removal of karaoke as an activity at the premises.

The sub-committee was reminded of its obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010 when considering the review.