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Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Pubs and clubs

Noise coming from pubs and clubs is often a problem and can badly affect neighbours.

Tips for preventing noise from pubs and clubs:

  • Lowering the volume to a reasonable level and reducing the bass (this is a major problem with complaints).      
  • Keep windows and doors shut, including emergency doors.      
  • Keep speakers away from adjoining walls with your neighbours.        
  • Place speakers on acoustic mats or absorbent material which will absorb some sound. Speakers can also be hung from the ceiling, this helps to stop the noise transmitting through the building structure.      
  • Design a sound system properly, it is better to have several smaller speakers ‘dotted’ around the premises, rather than one large one next to the DJ.      
  • Ensure Management control over entertainers. During the evening go out into the road and garden to check noise levels. Do not let the volume ‘creep’ up during the evening. Make sure DJ announcements are not a problem.      
  • Ensure good management control over customers when they are leave..

Other noise control measures include:   

  • The fitting of a noise limiting device.     
  • The fitting of a secondary glazing or locking certain windows, where windows point at residential neighbours.     
  • Lobbied entrances (double doors).      
  • Mechanical ventilation may become necessary.
  • Music should cut out if emergency exits are opened. Customers often open emergency exits if it is too hot and this is why mechanical ventilation and management control may be needed. Interlock the emergency exits with the noise limiting device.

Tips for minimising noise from pub gardens and other outside areas:

  • Be very careful if speakers are used in your pub gardens as this can easily cause a noise nuisance to neighbours. Loud voices, especially those singing along to the music, will certainly cause a problem.  
  • Children’s play areas need to be adequately supervised - a group of children can create quite a lot of noise.
  • Barbecues can also cause problems. Not only can you have loud voices with people enjoying themselves, but it is also a prime time to have external loud speakers. Please think about how this could annoy neighbours.   

Please note loud speakers on the public pavement or fixed to the walls of premises fronting the pavement are not acceptable and is against the law.  

The Environmental Protection Team can take action if noise from pubs and clubs is found to be causing a nuisance. See How to complain to the Council about noise nuisance and What the Council can do about noise nuisance for more information.

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