Portland publican will be a ‘better neighbour’

10:20am Monday 27th October 2008

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A PUBLICAN has vowed to be a ‘better neighbour’ after councillors heard complaints about some of his customers’ behaviour.

Members of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee heard the comments from frustrated residents living near the Punchbowl Inn in Easton Street, Portland.

The meeting was called to review the pub’s licensing conditions including how late it can host live entertainment and music and how noise is managed.

Residents at the meeting said they have been disturbed by people urinating on their properties and fighting, shouting and swearing until late at night.

The pub’s designated supervisor Mark Long and his brother Robert, who is the landlord, denied some of the accusations but agreed some changes need to be made.

Easton Street resident Katy Pascoe told councillors the pub’s neighbours have had to put up with ‘excessively loud’ noise from smokers standing outside the pub and from people shouting over their fences after drinking.

The committee heard that on one occasion Mrs Pascoe called the police because a drunk man had entered her property without permission and went into the spare bedroom that her niece was sleeping in.

Mrs Pascoe said complaints have also been made about the number of people smoking outside the pub since the ban came into force and how the outside area is managed by staff.

Mrs Pascoe submitted a list of suggested conditions for the pub’s licence, including ending all live entertainment by 11pm and clearing away all glasses and cigarette ends from outside the pub by the same time.

She added: “I don’t think any of us wanted it to come to the stage where we’re calling the police on our neighbour.”

Mark Long began by apologising to the Easton Street residents at the meeting, adding: “I have to hold my hands up and say that we probably could have policed and monitored the situation better for our neighbours.”

He said he and his brother had believed their licence allowed them to host live music until midnight but added that he would now restrict performances to ending at 11pm as per his licence and his neighbour’s wishes.

He added: “All I will say is that this is Bob’s first time as a landlord.

“We have looked and listened to what people have had to say and we will do our best to make ourselves better neighbours.”

Councillors have deferred announcing their decision on the pub’s licensing conditions until later today.