Tag: Manbar

Manbar has lost its appeal to keep its regulated entertainment licence, after resident, two floors up made noise complaints.

In a statement released by Manbar, the popular venue’s management said that it had lost against Westminster City Council with regards to its ‘regulated entertainment license’, however it will remain open with its 3 AM alcohol sales license. This means that Manbar will remain in business, without music, despite the bar’s owners spending £25,000 on noise compliance.

During the hearing, Westminster City Council served up their witnesses and the 1 tenant, who originally made the noise complaint. He was the the only person living near Manbar to give evidence.

On day two of the hearing, the Court made a site visit to Manbar to witness both the sound levels within the venue and in the residency, two floors above – at maximum sound level.

Chris Amos, the bar’s general manager said:
‘The bar will be applying for it’s regulated entertainment licence again in the near future with all the stipulations possible to safeguard the venue without causing any noise nuisance. Hopefully the council will grant us back our licence! Also the government recently deregulated entertainment before 11pm each day so we will offering early evening entertainment and currently working out the schedule for this.

‘Many thanks for the support through this case, luckily Manbar remains open – so be sure to come by for a drink.’

Andrew Ralph, Westminster City Council’s Noise and Licensing Manager said in a statement to TheGayUK:

‘An independent judge has today ruled that Manbar has a long history of playing music that constitutes a public noise nuisance and disturbs residents. Westminster City Council is duty bound to address any public noise nuisance wherever it is found, whoever is making it – and that is all it has done here. Last year, the council agreed to a compromise – suggested by the owner – that Manbar’s right to play amplified music would be temporarily suspended until the necessary measures have been taken for it to be played at acceptable levels – levels that apply to every other licensee wanting to play music. After a sound-limiter was fitted, the noise level was found by officers to be acceptable. However, within a week, further complaints were received and the levels were once again found to be a statutory nuisance. The Court found that this was because externally amplified music was being played at Manbar.

The result of the appeal means that Manbar must resolve the problems arising from noise nuisance, as they promised to do. If they are able to do that, Westminster City Council is ready to work with Manbar so that it can once again play amplified music.”

Manbar, the iconic independent gay bar on Charing Cross Road will be forced to close if it loses a costly legal battle with Westminster City Council early in April.

The bar, which is on the site of 79CXR, the legendary dance bar, which ran for eighteen years before being sold to gay entrepreneur Chris Amos, opened as Manbar in 2012.

Since opening, Manbar has surged in popularity serving over 3000 customers a week and provided a unique and truly authentic gay space in central London.

Repeated complaints from one resident two floors above the bar led to a licensing review last summer in which Westminster Council banned regulated entertainment (the playing of music) until such time as improvements were made. Manbar has appealed and has continued to trade pending the appeal hearing which comes before Westminster Magistrates on Monday 7th April 2014.

In the mean time, expert advice has led to extensive works being carried out to ensure that noise nuisance, however slight, does not take place. Council officials have been involved in measuring, testing and have written to Manbar stating, ‘we are satisfied with the Sound Limiter setting, the sound limiter model and the way in which the system is now set up.’ But to no avail. Senior officers at Westminster refuse to see sense and compromise, insisting on pursuing the appeal.

So successful has Manbar been in solving the problem that council officials could not detect any noise in the complainant’s flat. They even turned off the resident’s fridge and laptop in an attempt to hear noise.

Whilst Manbar have been advised that they should win, if they lose they face a legal bill of up to £60,000.

Is this fair? Should one resident’s complaint – that he can hear noise if he turns his fridge off – lead Westminster, with its draconian powers and seemingly unlimited financial muscle, to pursue and persecute tiny Manbar?

Chris Amos is seeking support both from the gay scene and the general public to help fight off Westminster City Council.

Today the ‘SAVE MANBAR’ campaign is being launch. Full details at www.manbarsoho.com

Members of the public can show their support on Twitter and Facebook.