Ironbridge pub at centre of alleged false noise complaint row speaks out

A pub in a Shropshire tourist hotspot has asked for the general public to think before they post online after a row erupted over noise complaints.

Gail Perks, the landlady of the Ye Olde Robin Hood Inn, Ironbridge, has spoken to the Shropshire Star after the pub was blamed for noise late into the night on Saturday, August 15.

The pub, which is located on Waterloo Street, received phone calls and criticism online about noise, despite the landlady and her team claiming that they were not responsible this time around.

Ms Perks has claimed that the noise the Robin Hood Inn was being blamed for was actually coming from a nearby private house function, not the pub.

As a result of the criticism labelled against the pub, Ms Perks and her team - which is largely her family - took to social media earlier this week to clear the air.

“We completely understand that we are part of a residential community, and we will always listen to genuine concerns,” read a section of the pub’s statement.

It continued: “However, we kindly ask that people are certain where noise is coming from before publicly attributing it to our business or making complaints against us.”

Ms Perks and her team only took over the Robin Hood Inn earlier this year in May.

The pub’s statement added: “We are working incredibly hard to build The Robin Hood Inn into a successful, welcoming and well-established venue for local people and visitors to Ironbridge.

“This business is also our livelihood, and repeated incorrect accusations can have a very real impact on a small independent business.”

It added: “We shouldn't continually have to defend ourselves for noise that isn't coming from our premises.

“All we ask is for fairness, consideration and for the facts to be established before our business is publicly blamed.”

Telford & Wrekin Council are investigating a noise complaint in the area of the Ye Olde Robin Hood Inn on August 15.

A council spokesperson said: "We are investigating a noise complaint from that date, with enquiries ongoing to establish the source of the noise and including private residences and licenced premises in the area. As the investigation has not yet concluded, it would be inappropriate to attribute responsibility to any particular address at this stage."