Letter to neighbours on The Paris House license review

A letter sent to people living near The Paris House in Brighton has highlighted their plight as the venue fills up each night - with punters said to be swearing, shouting and even urinating in the street.

It added that local residents have been concerned about loud music being played inside the pub, on the corner of Brunswick Street East and Western Road, comparing the spot to an open air venue with customers gushing out onto the pavement to watch the bands inside play.

The pavement often packs out with music fans enjoying the music late at night (Image: The Argus)

They are calling on the council's licensing panel to review its premises licence and encouraged people with concerns about the venue to come forward.

However venue manager Héléna Marchand says these complaints could be catastrophic for the off-mainstream venue famed for its jazz nights.

She said: "We can't afford to lose our licence, and Brighton can't afford to lose another music venue."

The Argus understands representatives from Paris House have met with concerned residents in the past, but discussions about managing punters or turning down the volume have not proved successful.

Read the full letter sent to local residents

Dear Neighbours,

 

Brighton and Hove City Council plans to review the licence for the Paris House, 21 Western Road, Hove BN3 1AE following receipt of an application for a review made by local residents.

 

The grounds for the review are that it is necessary to ensure the license holder meets the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.

 

Some local residents have been concerned for a long time about noise nuisance disturbing them caused by loud live or recorded music played in The Paris House pub which is on the corner of Brunswick Street East and Western Road in Hove.

 

There has also been disturbance caused by customers of the pub making noise outside with shouting and swearing a regular occurrence and urinating in the street witnessed a number of times.

 

The later at night the noise occurs the greater the chances of residents being disturbed with some being  woken from sleep and others being unable to sleep at all.

 

Many residents have complained in the past and some have attended mediations with representatives from The Paris House but to no real or lasting effect.

 

Historically the problems become worse when better weather arrives because customers stand on the pavement outside listening to the music and watching bands play next to often open doors which is more akin to an open air venue.

 

In fact, The Paris House is in a 'cumulative impact zone' specially dedicated by the council as an area particularly sensitive to problems caused by licensed premises because of the number of homes nearby.

 

As a result, some residents have now applied to the city council for the existing license held for The Paris House to be reviewed by the council's licensing panel.

 

Under the review process anyone with relevant views can make representations to the council until 7 March 2024. Those representations can be sent-

 

By post to:

Head of safer communities,

Brighton and Hove City Council

2nd Floor,

Bartholomew House,

Bartholomew Square,

Brighton BN1 1JP

 

By email to:

ehl-licensing@brighton-hove.gov.uk

 

OR

 

To councillor Andrei Czolak at Andrei.Czolak@brighton-hove.gov.uk

 

If you wish to make a representation about noise nuisance you have suffered and/or antisocial behaviour you have experienced it would be helpful if you could provide specific examples.

 

However, if you have not kept a record of any issues or incidents, please describe more generally how The Paris House has affected your enjoyment of your home or your ability to work from home and whether it has had any impact on your health or well being.

 

It has taken a lot of time and effort by residents to achieve this review.

Please make the most of this opportunity if you have been disturbed or affected by The Paris House.

The letter encouraging people to put their complaints to the council was also sent to residents in homes more than 100 metres away from the site - some who received the letter said they lived too far away to hear anything.

A consultation was opened by Brighton and Hove City Council for residents to share their experiences. This closes today.

Inside The Paris House

With the venue fearing the worst, manager Héléna posted a heartfelt plea on social media for support.

Tom Burris commented: "These people are a public nuisance by complaining all the time.

"It causes so much stress to venues and to the public who for the most part love live music and culture.

"How do we complain about the complainers? Brighton needs a culture preservation order on all music venues and event spaces.

"The Paris House is literally the reason I live in Waterloo Street. It's my dad's favourite pub. I can hear it from my bedroom and it makes me think of how lucky I am to live in such a brilliant city thriving with culture, talent and amazing people.

"Sad that a small minority want to remove it."