Neighbours of a Wetherspoon pub in Falmouth have raised concerns about noise coming from its roof terrace after it applied to increase hours customers are allowed to spend up there.

A Cornwall Council licensing committee heard this week that there had been complaints from neighbouring residents about noise from the roof terrace of a The Packet Station, writes Local Democracy Reporter Lee Trewhela.

Despite this, the company asked to extend the hours it could open its 140-seater terrace for customers.

A meeting on Wednesday (September 25) heard that there was previously a licensing ban on the roof terrace at pub on The Moor being used from 7.30pm to 9.30am the following morning, but the pub wants to allow customers to now use it up until 9pm.

The pub is situated within the Falmouth Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ), which aims to control the consumption of alcohol in areas where there is a high proliferation of licensed premises and anti-social behaviour.

The application resulted in an objection from a resident, who said: “We have noticed an application for extended opening hours for the roof terrace. We wish to object to this extension of opening hours due to the noise levels should this extension be granted.”

Katie Doyle, solicitor for J D Wetherspoon, told the licensing committee there had previously been complaints about noise emanating from the roof terrace, which opened in 2022, but management and staff had done everything in their power to stop the problem and work with local residents.

The meeting heard that since pub manager David Rescorla took over in April this year there had been no noise complaints.

“We have previously addressed residential concerns that have been raised and are confident we have a good relationship with our neighbouring residents,” said Ms Doyle, who added that no concerns had been raised by Devon and Cornwall Police’s licensing officer and the application had been supported by Falmouth Town Council.

Wetherspoon’s held a virtual meeting with neighbouring residents – who live to the rear of the pub – on Monday this week to understand their concerns and put in place a terrace management plan, which includes additional staff presence and checks on the terrace at least every half an hour between 6pm and 9pm, additional monitoring by door staff and all orders stopping at 8.45pm.

Customers will be asked to keep noise to a minimum and those who do not comply will be asked to leave and will be barred if they continue making noise.

As well as signs warning punters to keep the noise down, the pub has implemented a number of acoustic measures, including sound barriers. There will be monthly meetings with nearby residents which Ms Doyle will attend along with a dedicated telephone hotline if neighbours have any concerns.

The application to extend the use of the roof garden was unanimously approved and the pub chain was congratulated on all the measures it had put in place to appease neighbouring residents.