Old Portsmouth pub granted new licence despite noise and rubbish concerns

During a virtual committee meeting yesterday (Sep 2) Portsmouth councillors approved a licence for the Wellington pub in Old Portsmouth.

The bar and restaurant had a licence for years previously but when new owner Tommy Ware - who also runs South Parade Pier - took over, the licence wasn't transferred in time due to the coronavirus lockdown, so it lapsed.

At the meeting objections from four residents living nearby were raised and as a result councillors reduced the alcohol sale and opening hours slightly.

Therefore, it will allow for alcohol sales between Monday and Saturday until midnight, and on Sunday until 11.30pm. And it will open from Monday to Saturday until 12.30am and on Sunday until midnight.

Andrew Spraggs, who lives in nearby Battery Row, said: 'Over recent months we have noticed changes going on with our neighbours.

'Recently on Saturday, July 18 music began playing at 6pm - the volume turned up to a point we could hear it through our home. At the same time customers were singing along in the courtyard.'

Neighbour Anthony Yates added: 'I have had my house urinated on by the people from the pub and I know it's from the pub because I have picked up bar glasses outside my home and returned them to the pub'

But Jon Wallsgrove, who was speaking on behalf of the applicant, said: 'It's under new ownership and management and the conditions offered are a result of the residents' concerns.

'If it was going to be a place people were going to go for a late-night drink it would have happened before. What they (objectors) all said is “it could happen, it's likely to happen”. Well it's not happened. Not when the licence was in place and not when the temporary event notices were in place.'

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It was agreed CCTV would be installed and a Challenge 25 policy would be implemented.

Councillors also stipulated the pub's bins shall be returned to the storage area in the garden as soon as possible following collection, to stop it being left on the street for long periods.

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