Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury bar owner and former footballer Ben Smith agrees to noise restrictions after complaints

Former Shrewsbury Town footballer Ben Smith has agreed to a series of restrictions on his town centre bar to address noise complaints from neighbours.

Published

St Nicholas Bar in Castle Street, which is owned by the former goalkeeper, had been the subject of a licence review by Shropshire Council after complaints about both noise and anti-social behaviour.

Earlier this year the bar, set in a former church, was served with a noise abatement order.

Under a new agreement, which was approved by the council's three man licensing review panel yesterday (WEDS), the bar will not be able to host live music until a noise management plan is signed off by the authority.

It will also be able to host live music only until 11pm, Monday to Saturday, and until 4pm on Sundays - the bar was previously allowed to host live music until midnight from Monday to Saturday.

A further condition is that the bar can only serve alcohol until 11.30pm, closing by midnight.

Mr Smith had asked the committee to consider allowing him to sell alcohol until midnight on Saturdays - telling them that it would make a "massive" financial difference to the business.

He also told the committee that he was altering his business plan for the building after accepting that he could not operate the same kind of musical events as it previously had.

There were also complaints about noise from people smoking outside the bar and leaving the premises at closing time.

Under the new conditions Mr Smith said he would look at using a different entrance to the building and would create a smoking area.

A door supervisor will also be required from 9pm to ensure that noise does not affect nearby properties.

Mr Smith told councillors at yesterday's hearing in Shirehall: "I am prepared to change the direction of my business which is very frustrating but I am prepared to do that.

"It is really disappointing because I have built something special in the town that I think people will miss."

Mr Smith said he planned to put five hotel rooms on the top floor of the building, and to turn the ground floor into a cafe.

The first floor is a Moroccan spa, while the second floor is a steak and lobster restaurant and bar.

The committee's recommendations were backed by a number of residents who attended the meeting and had called for the review.

David Waterhouse, representing the Council House Court Residents Association, said: "We support the application which has been brought today and in the past two years many of our residents have had their lives made a misery at times by the noise and at times, the standards of behaviour."

Shropshire Councillor for the Quarry and Coton Hill,Andrew Bannerman also spoke on behalf of residents.

He said: "The premises are not suitable for the type of entertainment that perhaps Mr Smith wants to operate and has been to some extent operating.

"This is a listed building with large windows, very resonant acoustics and it is simply not suitable for the type of entertainment in that location which has been going on."