Karaoke pub boss landed with court bill

Singing could be heard booming out of The Vine pub in Darlaston, with the noise spreading to a living room and bedroom of a nearby house.

A noise abatement notice had been served by Walsall Council on July 9 last year, amid concern about noise from the boozer in Bell Street.

When an environmental health officer from Walsall Council visited again on July 26, a range of songs including Crazy Little Thing, Babe and Hero by Mariah Carey could be heard being performed until after 10pm.

Boss Michael Blundell admitted failing to comply with an abatement notice at Walsall Magistrates Court and was hit with a £3,780 bill.

Since then thousands of pounds has been spent on double glazing and other residents have come out in support of the establishment.

The defence said there had been only one house complain and people in the area had never experienced problem with the premises.

Mr Dominic Patouchas, prosecuting for the council, said officer Leigh Davy had been to the address which is opposite the pub in Bell Street on that evening.

The noise could be heard inside the house and even further away by his car which was parked 36 metres away.

In a statement Mr Davy said: "The level was definitely excessive and in my opinion there was no doubt that it would prevent or inhibit sleep with the sound of the microphone being very loud."

The court was told the noise was a "constant nuisance" with increasingly loud levels once the doors opened,

Mr Dewsbery, defending, said Blundell had been in charge of the pub since 2011 and a karaoke had been a regular event.

Since the noise issue was raised around £10,000 has been spent on double glazing, an air vent was blocked and customers encouraged to use the side and rear entrances when music is playing.

Mr Dewsbery said the pub was popular and his client has now taken a step back and appointed a manager for the premises.

"The complaints came from one address and one address only. The pub enjoys a great deal of goodwill in the community," he said.

Blundell was given a £500 fixed penalty, ordered to pay £3,230 costs and a victim surcharge.

Speaking after the case Mr Blundell, aged 39, said he was considering his long-term future. "We are a community pub, we have never had any problems before. The average age of the people that come in are in their 50s," he said.

Resident Carole Hughes, aged 69, of Bell Street, added: "We haven't got a problem, we have been here 44 years and we have never had a minutes problem with the pub."