The Crown Inn, a beloved and newly refurbished pub in Lea near Ross-on-Wye, has successfully secured approval to keep its outdoor garden bar open until 10pm, overcoming objections from a neighbouring resident worried about noise disturbances.
Following a lengthy application process, Herefordshire Council’s licensing subcommittee granted the variation after failing to reach an agreement between the pub’s management and the concerned neighbour. The Crown Inn had already received a licence for its main premises back in March.
Ben Savidge, son of the pub’s owners, addressed the committee, emphasizing that extending the garden bar’s hours would “ease pressure on the main bar and enable faster service for guests.” Since its reopening in April, the pub has been met with enthusiastic responses from both locals and visitors alike, with the community generally welcoming the improvements.
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Mr Savidge also highlighted the potential benefits to local employment from the licence extension and outlined steps the pub has taken to minimize disruption. These included limiting outdoor music to a 10pm cutoff and closing the upper garden by 9pm to ensure neighbourly peace.
Although the objecting neighbour chose not to present their case during the hearing—something the committee chair Coun Polly Andrews described as “disappointing”—the subcommittee recognized The Crown Inn’s efforts to engage positively with the community.
Coun Andrews concluded that the benefits and concessions made warranted approval of the outdoor bar’s extended hours. The eagerly awaited “Summer Bar” is set to open this month, offering patrons stone-baked pizzas alongside a curated selection of beers, ciders, and cocktails.