Wallis & Co wins permission for outdoor cocktail van and music at Hartlepool Marina after addressing concerns over noise

A Hartlepool restaurant has been given the go-ahead to provide an afternoon’s entertainment featuring a cocktail van and music, despite council concerns over noise.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Bosses at Wallis & Co, located at Hartlepool Marina, submitted a ‘temporary event notice’ to sell alcohol from a cocktail van outside the venue, and also play recorded music via a DJ, on Saturday, August 13.

The document states the activities would take place between noon and 6pm at the front of their Navigation Point base.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hartlepool Borough Council’s Environmental Health Department objected to the notice, raising concerns over potential “public nuisance” caused by the playing of music.

Wallis and Co at Hartlepool MarinaWallis and Co at Hartlepool Marina
Wallis and Co at Hartlepool Marina

The case was heard by the council’s licensing sub-committee on Wednesday, August 10, where councillors, after a period of deliberation in private, decided the event would be allowed to go ahead.

Jonathan Wallis, owner at Wallis & Co, speaking at the meeting, said businesses on the marina need all the support they can get, including from the council.

He said: “The volume in my opinion isn’t ridiculous, we’re not talking about a sound system that you have at a full blown concert.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s a bit of background music, I’m trying to do something different, create an atmosphere in a business which is tough.

“What we do should benefit other businesses if it’s dragging footfall down to the marina, and I think we need the council’s help more often in all fairness to help generate more footfall to the marina.”

He added his research found the “ambient volume” on the marina is 68 decibels outside, with the cocktail van being 77 decibels at full volume standing five metres away.

He noted this decreases to 74 decibels at 10metres and to 68 decibels at 15metres.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Zoe Craig, environmental health manager at the council, said the objection comes following a “history of noise complaints in regards to Navigation Point”, with three surrounding Wallis & Co over the past 12-18 months.

The most recent case was in March where concerns were raised over the bass and volume of music playing, which Mr Wallis addressed.

Ms Craig said: “We do want businesses to do well, but because of the history of noise complaints along there I have to take into consideration the residents.

“To control music outside is extremely, extremely hard, and as the day goes on people get louder, people are enjoying themselves outside, and that affects the neighbours above.

“If we allow one, more want to do that, so then how do we control it?”

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Wallis said the one-off event will likely begin around 2pm on Saturday, with small speakers mounted on the side of the cocktail van.