A Wood Street bar that opened in December last year has already infuriated some of its neighbours
A new bar has reportedly irritated its Walthamstow neighbours so much they “have thrown fruit and other items” in an attempt to “stop the noise”.
Artist’s Lounge, a restaurant and bar in Wood Street, opened in December last year and recently applied to Waltham Forest Council for an alcohol licence, which was refused after a meeting on 6th March.
Owner Ervin Mulaj hoped to be granted permission to sell alcohol until half past midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and until 10.30pm all other nights of the week.
Ahead of the meeting to discuss the application, residents and ward councillors urged the committee to refuse or reduce the proposed hours, claiming the venue has shown “complete disregard” for neighbours.
Orla Parris, of Wyatts Lane, said she and others living near the business “have had to endure noise all day and night” since it opened.
In her submission to the council’s licensing committee, she wrote: “The noise consists of men shouting, fighting, banging and loud music. [It] carries on until after midnight nearly every night and[…] till 6am at times.
“We can hear their noise with all our windows closed and the bass from their music reverberates in my property, a constant beat.
“Residents who live in the flats above have thrown fruit and other items on the roof [of their garden area] to try and stop the noise. This is the kind of frustration their noise has caused.”
The area’s ward councillors, Vicky Ashworth and Richard Sweden, also wrote to the committee voicing their concerns after being contacted by residents.
Cllr Ashworth claimed police have “already had issues” with the business after being called to reported fights, although the Metropolitan Police did not choose to comment on the application.
In response to the complaints, the council’s licensing enforcement team suggested Artist’s Lounge should ensure their garden area is fully enclosed and agree to a condition that customers would be ushered inside by 7pm.
Artist’s Lounge was contacted to respond to residents’ complaints ahead of the licensing committee meeting but declined to comment.
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