Pub bosses hit by £6k bill over Wham classic

Bosses of a Black Country pub which kept neighbours awake by belting out the likes of Wake Me Up Before You Go Go and Mambo Number 5 have been hit with a bill of almost £6,000.

The Wham classic and Lou Bega's number one hit were blasted out along with Rihanna's 'Please Don't Stop The Music' from the Royal Oak in Rushall sometimes until after 11pm,

Walsall Magistrates Court heard. A noise abatement notice was served last summer following complaints.

But Walsall Council was alerted to further problems after blaring tunes could still be heard from the bedroom and living room of a nearby home.

Licensee Paul Rymer and designated premises supervisor Jayne Lloyd each pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to comply with an abatement notice in October, December and then February this year.

Kerry Munro, prosecuting for Walsall Council, said the notice was served on both Rymer and Lloyd following a barrage of complaints.

But even this did not quieten the party, and council officers who called the pub to get the volume turned down had their pleas were ignored.

Neighbour Samantha Knox, who lives around 100 yards away from the pub in Daw End, could hear music from her living room and bedroom despite having double glazing.

Officers who investigated on four occasions from between 8.30 and 11.30pm agreed the noise was too excessive on each occasion.

Mrs Munro said: "The music was too loud and the level of noise far exceeded the noise of passing traffic."

Mr John Walker, defending Rymer, said he took full responsibility and there had been no complaints since February this year. He added he wanted to work with neighbours to make the pub a success.

Karen Hughes, who was defending Lloyd, said she had never been present at the time of noise complaints and her role in the running of the pub was only "minimal".

Magistrates yesterday ordered Rymer, aged 48, of Sedgemere Grove, Shelfield, to pay £2,957 in fines, costs, compensation and victim surcharge. Lloyd, 51, of High Street, Rowley Regis, was handed a bill for £2,942 by the court.