Bar cancels live music after noise notice

The Cage Wine Bar, on Reigate High Street, said it had stopped all live music until further notice after receiving the notice from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council on 5 August.

The venue remains open and trading.

A petition calling for live music to be protected at The Cage had received more than 9,000 signatures at the time of writing.

The Cage, which is owned by Pilgrim Brewery, said live music had been part of the venue for more than 20 years and claimed its future viability could be affected without entertainment.

Pilgrim Brewery co owner Adrian Rothera said: “It is an absolute certainty that without live music The Cage will not survive as a hospitality venue; it is only the busy summer months that sustain the business over the winter months.”

The venue said it had a licence to play music outside in its courtyard until 11pm, seven days a week, but generally hosted bands or DJs once on a weekend during the summer and rarely during the week.

Rothera said the business had reduced event finishing times to around 10.30pm and worked with bands and DJs to lower volume after being made aware of a complaint in May.

Another statement from the venue said: “We are sorry to announce that, following the service of a Noise Abatement Notice by the Environmental Services department of Reigate & Banstead council, we have to cancel all live music at the Cage until further notice.

“This is an incredibly difficult situation for us and threatens the future viability of the Cage.

“For more than 20 years, our venue has been part of Reigate’s live music scene, hosting countless performances and bringing people together through live entertainment.”

Council response

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council said the notice followed complaints about the volume, character, duration and frequency of amplified music from live bands and DJs in the venue’s yard area.

A council spokesperson told SurreyLive its investigations found noise from the events was clearly audible inside the complainants’ property and materially interfered with the reasonable use and enjoyment of their home.

The council said: “The notice does not prohibit live music. This has been the decision of the business.

“It requires the premises to ensure that, when events take place, they are appropriately managed and controlled so that they do not cause a statutory noise nuisance to neighbouring residents.”

The spokesperson added that officers remained available to discuss what compliance could look like and help find an acceptable balance.

The Cage said it recognised residents were entitled to “reasonable peace” and that noise concerns should be taken seriously, but called for a “constructive, proportionate and evidence based solution”.

Night time economy

The case comes amid wider debate over the balance between hospitality, live entertainment and residents’ concerns.

In London, mayor Sadiq Khan has criticised Westminster City Council’s draft licensing policy for Soho and the West End, which recommended venues move away from high volume “vertical drinking” and open bar space.

Khan said licensing decisions that could “make or break” nightlife had been “skewed towards the interests of a handful of highly vocal residents and councillors”, without enough weight given to the wider economy and culture.

Downing Street also intervened in the Westminster row last week, stating busy pubs were “not a public nuisance” but “British life”.

The case also reflects wider licensing and environmental health risks for operators with outdoor areas and live entertainment.

In a recent legal Q&A for the Morning Advertiser (MA), Poppleston Allen solicitor Alex Tomlinson said Noise Abatement Notices were “a serious matter” and advised operators to engage early with environmental health officers, keep records of mitigation steps and consider acoustic advice.