Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Croydon residents slam plans by new owners of the historic Dog and Bull pub to extend licensing hours to 3am, citing noise and disruption concerns.
As reported by Inside Croydon, the Dog and Bull market pub’s new proprietors have not yet applied for a license to remain open till the wee hours of the morning.
“There are too many flats in the area and it seems they have not thought about the residents here,”
one neighbour of the pub told Inside Croydon.
As part of a £125,000 renovation that has mostly concentrated on the beer garden, or what they have chosen to call “The Wilderness,” Brighton-based Laine, a part of the Punch Pubs pubco empire, has already angered the regulars at the establishment by changing its name to “The Dog.”
The renovations have been ongoing for five weeks, and this Friday, May 9, is scheduled for what Laine has called a “soft launch.”
Additionally, according to the updated pub’s website, they intend to remain open until midnight most nights, closing at 2 a.m. on Fridays and opening at 3 a.m. on Saturdays. Additionally, a new sound system could be used into the early hours of the morning.
According to an official release from Laine,
“Imagine this: incredible, bookable outdoor spaces, heated for year-round revelry, giant screens for unmissable sporting action, and a killer sound system ready to drop the freshest beats.”
“Revelry” no less.
And they boast:
“Forget dusty traditions and predictable pints! Laine, Punch Pubs’ equally awesome sister company and notorious for building boozers that pulse with individuality, is unleashing a £125,000 initial investment into this Croydon cornerstone as the first bark in a thrilling three-stage transformation.
This isn’t just a lick of paint; it’s a full-blown ‘garden utopia’ in the making!”
However, longtime tenants in adjacent apartment buildings claim they have not been informed of Laine’s plans.
“I had no idea what was going on about this, even though I live next to the pub,” said one local.
I was not aware of the extended opening hours to 2am and 3am. Nobody has informed us about it.
I always go out in other boroughs here in London, where most pubs I go have a strict curfew for their outdoor space in residential areas, and after a certain time, everybody goes inside.”
Later in the evening, the neighboring Granaries nightclub would only have its sound system on indoors, the resident recalled.
“In the summer months, I like to have our flat’s balcony door open, especially if it is hot. We might not be able to do that if there’s loud music going on outside. There are too many flats in the area and it seems they have not thought about the residents here.”
Town Hall sources claim that no application for a change in The Dog and Bull’s operating hours had been submitted to the licensing committee.
Ria Patel, a councillor for Fairfield ward which includes Surrey Street, told Inside Croydon that she understands wanting to revitalise the night-time economy in the town centre, but late night openings risks being disruptive to the residents who live off the alleys of Surrey Street that surround the pub.
A spokesperson from CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, accused Laine last week of “vulture capitalism” and “cultural vandalism” due to their plans for the Grade II-listed frontage of The Dog and Bull.
The location has had a market pub for 750 years. A vague, unidentifiable abstract of “The Dog” took the place of the more conventional Dog and Bull pub sign that was hanging across the street market last week.
A week after we revealed the unnecessary name change, Inside Croydon readers participated in an online survey.
96% of respondents stated that they would rather use the traditional Dog and Bull moniker than the needless and meaningless change that some Laine business leader came up with.
At the end of March, Punch Pubs acquired the Dog and Bull, which had previously belonged to Youngs, and moved it into what they refer to as their “Laine portfolio.”
Closing the establishment and beginning renovations, primarily to the beer garden area, was their first action.
The site has reportedly had a tavern since 1276, when Butcher’s Row was the name of the medieval market.
What are the main concerns of residents about the extended licensing hours in Croydon?
Longer hours, particularly late at night when policing resources may be limited, might increase alcohol-related violence, antisocial behavior, and public disturbances.
Later closing hours frequently lead to late-night activities, loud music, and noise from customers leaving the establishment, which impairs the quality of life and sleep of those who live nearby.
Longer drinking sessions might be a factor in the rise in alcohol use, which has been connected to social difficulties and health problems that impact communities.
The increased demand on police and local authorities to control disorder and enforce compliance may put a strain on their resources and diminish their efficacy.
Community influence over licensing decisions is limited because some residents drop their objections to applications for licenses out of fear of intimidation or retaliation.
The majority exclusively use extended hours on weekends or special occasions, despite the fact that many establishments are granted them.