PLAN TO ALLOW BAR BACKFIRED

Residents win battle, but are losing war against Belushi's

from West End Extra 15th January 1999

article written by Martin Newman

A bold 'experiment' by Covent Garden residents to allow a late night bar to operate near homes has backfired.

Residents fighting a rearguard action against Belushi's, in Russell Street, won a battle late yesterday to stop the bar extending its operating licence, but say constant noise is making their lives hell anyway.

"They were the only premises in the entire Covent Garden area where we made an exception to the rule and said 'Let's do an experiment'," said John Bos, of the Covent Garden Community Association (CGCA). "It hasn't worked. We shot ourselves in the foot. We shouldn't have agreed."

The seven year fight to limit noise from the bar had its latest twist before Westminster's Licensing Sub-Committee yesterday when locals turned out to oppose an application to extend Belushi's operating hours to 2am. It is the only above-ground bar in the area allowed to operate beyond normal pub hours, but yesterday the new application was turned down by councillors after a six-hour hearing. They cited the inconvenience to residents on either side of the building. The CGCA is now attempting to reverse the process after allowing the extension proposal in 1994, when the bar's owners agreed to certain conditions.

"Residents are obviously fed up," commented Mr Bos. He said thumping music could be heard through the party wall and people leaving the bar made noise as late as 1am.

Murray Roberts, the operations director for owners Interpub, said they were doing all they could to minimise disturbance to their neighbours.

He said staff at Belushi's had been changed following complaints about noise from their quarters, and £80,000 was being spent on refurbishing, including insulation work.

"We have had one incident in the last year where a neighbour complained about noise in the early hours," Mr Roberts said. "This was investigated fully, the following day the culprit's employment was terminated."

However in a letter to the council, next-door neighbours Mr and Mrs Harbert said: "Our bruising experience over seven years has taught us that the licence to midnight should now be refused in view of its long history of giving offence to neighbours.

"We have borne a severe burden and deserve a rest."

Read more in the CGCA's report on Belushi's.

 

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