NSW pubs noise complaints: Full list of pubs pulled into line

Live music, fighting patrons and vomit are just some of the things residents living near some well known pubs and hotels have complained about. Find out which venues are feeling the heat.

Complaints about noise in hotels and pubs across NSW are continuing to result in strict conditions placed on venues by the state’s liquor authority.

Implementing crowd control measures and reducing the volume of live music are among measures entertainment venues must adhere to after noise complaints were lodged to Liquor and Gaming NSW (LGNSW)

A register of disturbance decisions handed down by the industry watchdog shows many of the complaints in 2020-2021 related to noisy revellers gathering in outdoor areas to the ire of homeowners.

Complaints have also centred on patrons smoking and loitering near their homes into the early hours and in some cases vomiting on their properties after leaving venues at night.

NewsLocal takes a look at some of the disturbance decisions handed down over the past two years: 

KINGSCLIFF BEACH HOTEL

The Kingscliff Beach Hotel is a popular venue on the Tweed coast.

Limiting noise on live performances and installing taller fences around outdoor bistro areas were among measures a Tweed Coast pub undertook to address concerns by neighbours over noise and patron behaviour.

Residents living near the Kingscliff Beach Hotel took their complaints to LGNSW in 2019 in a bid to reduce noise emanating from outdoor areas at the venue used to host live music performances and big band nights.

Residents claimed there had been instances of “hundreds of patrons attending these events” and “often patrons fought out the front of (their homes) or urinated in residents’ gardens when leaving the hotel”.

The owner of an adjacent unit block called for noise conditions on the hotel’s liquor licence and increased security staff to perform “boundary patrols” around the pub. 

In response to the complaint, the venue said the operation of the alfresco area and live music was “nothing more than the natural evolution of the hotel business” and designed to meet “demands and expectations” of its patrons.

The hotel also agreed to various mitigation measures including increasing the height of the alfresco bistro garden’s wall from 4.6m to 7.6m and noise limits on live music performances.

In its decision this month, LGNSW found the hotel has at times had “unduly disturbed the quiet and good order of the neighbourhood” but found the noise mitigation measures proposed by the club would address disturbance issues.

The hotel said it has also sought additional security for live music nights and for the pub’s boundary to be patrolled after these events.

THE PALAIS RECEPTION CENTRE

The venue is located on Catherine St in Sydney’s inner west.

A popular inner west wedding venue was ordered to increase its security last year as part of measures aimed at reducing noise impacts on surrounding residents.

The Palais Reception Centre in Leichhardt was at the centre of noise complaints lodged to LGNSW in 2019 that objected to the sound of “dance parties” and “nightclub type events” at the venue.

In their complaints, residents claimed the disturbances were “caused by music and patrons exiting the venue who loiter, scream, rev car engines and beep car horns”.

A ban on music after midnight and measures to address “anti-social behaviour” were among measures homeowners wanted in place in order to keep the peace in the neighbourhood.

LGNSW heard police and Inner West Council had received a total of 18 complaints relating to noise at the venue in 2019 – the bulk relating to nightclub-style ticketed events that ran as late as 3am.

In a phone call with LGNSW in 2019, the venue owner said nightclub-style ticketed events would no longer be held in response to the complaints.

LGNSW, in its decision, found it necessary to impose conditions on the venue including installation of a noise limiter and engaging security guards to patrol outside the venue whenever it trades past midnight.

Inner West Council said the venue had been operating as a function centre since 1938 – predating planning controls – and therefore the council had no power to dictate how the venue could operate. 

HALCYON HOUSE

A luxury hotel in Cabarita Beach was issued a formal warning after nearby residents claimed excessive sound from the venue left them unable to open windows due to noise.

Halcyon House was at the centre of noise complaints in 2019 relating to loud PR systems during functions, the sound of glass bottles being removed from the hotel and noisy patrons.

The residents, in their complaint, stated they were restricted in the use of their homes with doors and windows needing to remain shut throughout the day and night, as well as being unable to use outdoor spaces due to noise.

Halcyon House at Cabarita Beach.

LGNSW heard the venue had received warnings and was fined by Tweed Shire Council in 2019 for breaching conditions of its consent relating to noise.

In response to the complaint, the venue said it had a range of noise measures in place to address noise including a food compost system limiting the amount of garbage collection and a “noise metre” used to check and manage sound levels.

The venue said it was also planning to build an ‘acoustic wall’ and roof that would reduce noise impacts on residents living to the south of the venue.

In its decision in March, LGNSW said it was satisfied the venue had at times “unduly disturbed” the neighbourhood and issued the hotel a formal warning along with recommendations including carrying out further noise mitigation measures.

THE EVELEIGH HOTEL

The Eveleigh Hotel implemented caps on the number of people gathering outside the venue after neighbours took their noise complaints to LGNSW.

Patrons smoking and loitering near homes and “overuse” of a footpath area outside the venue were among the concerns raised by residents relating to the Redfern pub in 2019.

One of the residents asked for seats outside the venue to be permanently removed to discourage patrons gathering outside the venue.

The Eveleigh Hotel on Abercrombie St.

The residents claimed groups of people outside had resulted in noise and the smell of cigarettes wafting into units.

The City of Sydney Council received 11 complaints about noise at the venue in 2018-19 – prompting rangers to conduct a noise assessment of the venue which found sound levels to be “offensive”.

In response to the complaint, the Eveleigh Hotel noted there were several other pubs and a train station near the venue leading to substantial foot traffic on the street.

The venue said it had also implemented a new policy to manage patrons and would limit the number of people gathering outside the venue to nine.

LGNSW, in its decision last year, found the venue at times had caused “undue disturbances” but noted it had agreed to a new plan to address sound impacts on neighbours.

The venue was issued a formal warning and ordered to ensure compliance with the outdoor capacity cap.

THE TORONTO HOTEL

Outdoor noise that residents claimed caused their windows to “rattle” prompted an investigation into noise levels at a central coast pub last year.

Residents living near the Toronto Hotel lodged their concerns with LGNSW following a series of outdoor music events held at the venue’s beer garden.

One of the residents claimed some of the concerts resulted in “extreme” noise that ”caused (his) windows to rattle”.

The Toronto Hotel took measures to reduce noise impacts on neighbours.

Another resident told LGNSW he had trouble hearing phone conversations or listening to TV due to noise and music at the venue.

Following the complaints, the venue undertook a new management plan to address patron noise levels on balconies and in the beer garden.

The venue also moved the outdoor stage closer to the hotel and away from nearby unit complexes and agreed to pack away entertainment equipment the following day after concerts to reduce disturbances at night.

In its decision LGNSW issued the venue a formal warning but said it was satisfied the venue’s management measures would mitigate disturbances.

BIRD IN HAND INN

Caps on noise and measures to address vandalism were among conditions imposed on a Pitt Town pub last year.

LGNSW issued the conditions to the Bird In Hand Inn following complaints from residents about “excessive noise” and the sound of patrons coming and going from the hotel.

One of the residents said they had also spent more than $15,000 in roof insulation, heavy weight curtains and reglazed windows in attempts to block out noise.

The venue was subject to noise complaints in 2019.

Police had also attended the venue on multiple occasions after complaints relating to noise from bands, the behaviour of patrons leaving the hotel, and patrons vomiting in residents’ properties.

One of the residents called for live music at the venue to be restricted to indoor areas and removal of an outside TV.

In response to the complaint, the hotel said live music has been featured throughout the entirety of the pub’s existence and provided a submission to LGNSW that included a petition signed by 423 people in support of the hotel and its live music entertainment offerings.

In its decision, LGNSW imposed a noise condition on the venue in a move it said would “strike a balance between meeting the expectations of the neighbouring residents and ensuring that the hotel can continue to provide entertainment to its patrons”.

Along with measures to reduce noise, the venue was also ordered to close a gate outside the venue to limit patron access to nearby homes.