Blondies faced closure after neighbours made noise complaints to Waltham Forest Council but councillors agreed it could stay open under new restrictions, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter
A popular alternative bar will need to limit the volume of live music following complaints from residents – but will be allowed to stay open.
Blondies, a self-styled ‘dive bar’ in Leyton, was challenged by its neighbours over monthly live shows, which they said were “unacceptably loud”.
Co-founders Sharmaine and Verity Cox, who launched their first venue in Hackney in 2015, said they were working to soundproof the former warehouse and took complaints “very seriously”.
Blondies hosts a range of events, “from run clubs and kids’ parties to community days, markets, and occasional live music,” they say. It is a popular venue for heavy metal and punk bands.
At a Waltham Forest Council licensing hearing today (Thursday 17th), residents from nearby Bevan Court said the sound of the drums and bass would “rattle their tables and window sills”.
They said they wanted Blondies to stay in its Church Road home and agreed it was a “pillar of the community” but said they had “endured enough”.
Ursula Casserly, who applied for a review of the licence, said: “This building is not fit for live or loud music. It never was.
“We’re not here to block progress, we’re just asking for protection.”
Others said it was harming their quality of life as they “could not relax” on a Friday evening.
Their complaints were backed up by the council’s licensing team, who said they had recorded a volume of 84 decibels during a late-night visit.
After a brief deliberation, councillors ordered the venue to install a noise limiter, which controls the volume of all amplified music – recorded or live.
A noise limiter prevents music being played louder than a volume set by the council’s air quality team. It will need to be kept in a locked, tamper-proof box and will be in use for the duration of Blondies’ time in the premises.
However, the limits will not be permanent. Blondies can request reviews in the future once the soundproofing works have been completed.
They will also need to display contact details of Verity, the licence holder, for anyone wishing to complain about noise.
Blondies said they were happy with the limiter being installed and they supported a “constructive” outcome that worked for both the venue and its neighbours.
Labour committee member Councillor Richard Sweden said the council “did not want to close down a socially beneficial business,” but more “concrete” regulations were needed.
Soundproofing work is slated to begin next week, Verity said, while the next live show has been tentatively scheduled for May.
The soundproofing will be paid for through a fundraiser with a target of £100,000. The first £20,000 raised will go towards noise mitigation, while the remaining cash will cover loss of earnings and other changes to the building, Sharmaine added.
Representatives from the Greater London Authority, speaking on behalf of deputy London mayor Howard Dawber, who oversees businesses, supported Blondies in the hearing.
The City Hall official acknowledged concerns from residents but said he had “utmost confidence” Blondies would make changes to the venue to prevent further nuisance.
He said that live music venues can improve health and wellbeing of local communities and were important for “nurturing talent”.
The Cox sisters had previously warned that being completely stripped of their licence to play live music could lead to the closures of both their Leyton venue and the original Hackney bar, which opened in 2015.
Live music venues across London have struggled in recent years, with many being forced to close following noise complaints from their neighbours.
They previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “This issue goes beyond just us, almost 200 music venues in the last two years and 100 breweries in the last year have shut down in the UK, four of them in Walthamstow’s ‘beer mile’ alone.
“Those businesses too far from foot traffic suffer from low sales, while those closer to residential areas face noise complaints. It’s a lose-lose situation. If this continues, London’s independent venues, creative spaces, and world-renowned music scene will disappear.”
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