Nightlife venues across the UK are finding themselves at risk of closure due to noise. From quaint village pubs to city centre night clubs, the impact of noise pollution on local residents could see their doors close for good.
All buildings are subject to noise regulations – be they family homes or concert halls – and as a licensee, ignoring them could lead to disaster for your business.
While most venues are fine when customers are indoors there are significant issues when music moves outdoors and residents have to deal with with noisy closing times as punters make their way home.
A recent flurry of venues under pressure have reached national news in recent weeks, highlighting the seriousness of the issue.
Recent examples of venues to have faced uncertainty include the 200-year-old Compton Arms in Islington and the Night & Day Café in Manchester.
Changes to established routines have played a significant role in the spike of complaints, with the relative quiet of lockdown being replaced with an increase in outdoor dining and drinking – making for a noisier environment for locals. Smoking areas are a particular problem with venues refused licence renewal because of noisy smokers.
Some have argued the problem has been exacerbated nationally through the increase in housing developments, with more people now living in closer proximity to established venues or in buildings that were originally warehouses or other industrial areas but in either case complaints are generally treated as if they were new premises.
Noise and the law
Noise regulations state no noise coming from a licensed venue should cause a statutory or public nuisance.
All licensed venues can play live music up to 11pm, while others will have permissions into later hours depending on their licence.
While there is no set limit on the noise you can produce during those hours, any persistent noise that significantly interferes with someone’s right to enjoy their home life can land your business in serious trouble.
Noise complaints made after 11pm could be investigated by your local authority. They may issue a warning, give a fixed penalty notice or remove any equipment found to be responsible for the noise.
Further enforcement could see an abatement notice issued by an environmental health officer, which if breached could lead to hefty fines – or worse – your licence being revoked.
The solution
Noise is part of the parcel of everyday life, and pubs, clubs and music venues can’t all be expected to close over the sounds that characterise them.
It is therefore imperative that venues strike a balance that ensures their events can continue while making life less stressful for those living around them.
But that doesn’t have to mean every event has to be cancelled – their calendars can still be stocked with great nights out thanks to targeted noise control measures including those from Echo Barrier.
How Echo Barrier can help
Echo Barrier has become a trusted name among bars, clubs and music venues across the UK.
Our range of acoustic panels can be used both indoors and outdoors and are designed to be easily transported, installed and put away. This is of particular benefit with the increase in outdoor socialising, with temporary barriers able to be easily installed and taken away after the peak summer season. The barriers are light easily handled and store flat for use the following summer
Our products have a proven track record in reducing sound vibrations through venue walls and absorbing sound to stop it escaping outside. They have been used in nightlife venues on both sides of the Atlantic, with particular successes in relieving the headaches of those living nearby one of Manhattan’s most popular live music venues.
Unlike other noise abatement systems on the market, our products don’t reflect sound – they absorb it. That helps relieve the stresses and subsequent headaches of those living nearby, but in turn has another benefit for the venue – improving sound quality and experience.
And at closing time, a temporary exit tunnel built using panels that helps to disperse revellers can quickly be dismantled and stored inside.
What’s more, they can also be rented if a venue is only in need of noise attenuation for single or sporadic outdoor events.
Our award-winning H-Series™ products are also fully water resistant to IPX6/9, frost resistant up to -40C and fully fire resistant to ASTM E84 and BS 7837-1996 – so there is no need to worry about leaving them outside.
Visit our products page to find the best solutions for your needs, or give our friendly team a call on 0845 561 3246.