Wetherspoons Noise

A PUB chain is trying again in its bid to create a green rooftop garden for its customers.

Wetherspoons has submitted new plans for a rooftop beer garden on the fourth floor of the Bright Helm pub in West Street, Brighton.

Previous plans were rejected last summer because of a lack of information on the potential for increased noise from customers and because of planning officials’ concerns that the bar would harm views of the neighbouring grade II listed St Paul’s Church.

If successful, the new bar could give more than 150 customers a new skyline drinking location with sea views.

Wetherspoons Noise2

As well as getting a rooftop pint, customers will be able to order food with the pub chain looking to amend food hoists at the pub to serve the roof terrace.

Similar rooftop bars have also been proposed for Wetherspoons in Exeter, Chatham and Cork.

The pub chain is also awaiting a decision from Brighton and Hove City Council on re-submitted plans for 14 hotel rooms on the second and third floors of the West Street pub which were initially submitted in August.

The plans to create the hotel rooms, converting rooms currently used as accommodation for staff, and the rooftop bar were originally submitted together in March last year but have been re-submitted as separate applications following their first refusal.

As part of the rooftop bar application, the pub chain has submitted a noise survey carried out at the site in February.

Experts claim that even with the rooftop bar full and with more than half the customers speaking with raised voices, it would be less noisy than the existing noise levels of West Street on a Saturday night.

Acoustic experts Cass Allen also state that any additional customer numbers attracted to the new bar would only marginally add to the number of people on West Street and its noise levels.

Wetherspoons said that the existing roof covering is in need of repair and upgrading and that existing extractor fans will be relocated to make way for customer seating while a circular tower structure on the roof will be converted into a bar.
Customers will be able to access the rooftop bar via an existing set of stairs tower and a disused lift which will be brought back into action.

It is also hoped that the new beer garden will reduce the number of customers gathering outside the pub’s entrance in West Street to smoke.

When contacted by The Argus, Wetherspoons declined to comment on the plans and when the bar might open.

 

Source: The Argus

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