World-famous artiste helps neighbours protect their street’s ‘peace and quiet’

MORE than 30 neighbours joined forces with world-famous concert pianist Alfred Brendel to prevent a Hampstead pub extending its opening hours.
Residents of quiet Christchurch Hill and Well Walk hired a barrister and descended on the Town Hall on Thursday night to protest at a bid by the Wells Tavern to stay open until midnight seven days a week and to host more live music.
In a letter to the council’s licensing committee, Mr Brendel, who lives in Well Walk, said live music from the pub already disturbed him at his home.
He added: “As a classical musician of some renown I have the strongest possible motive to ask you to protect our street’s peace and quiet.
“The suggestion to extend live music into the early morning fills me with horror.
“During a lifetime of world-wide performing I have trained my ears to listen.
“If I lose hours of sleep I cease to function properly, and so would most of us.”
Investment banker John Tusa, son of Sir John Tusa, the boss of Barbican arts centre, complained that noisy drinkers leaving the pub often kept him awake until 11.30pm and that his three children would lose even more sleep if the licence was extended.
He added: “The application is totally unsuitable for what is a quiet, residential area.”
But at the meeting, barrister Peter Glazebrook, representing pub owner Speed 9600, described the proposals as “modest” and accused residents of “overreacting”.
He added: “The music is jazz or easy listening, which gives an indication of the clientele. This is not, if I may say so, a ‘hard drinking’ pub, but a far more civilised establishment.”
Labour councillor Lucy Anderson, who chaired the panel of three councillors hearing the licence application, rejected his arguments after hearing residents’ complaints.
She told him: “We have heard plenty of evidence that residents are being disturbed as it is.
“You have not convinced me that the pub is only used by local people or that the problem of getting people home after public transport has stopped has been dealt with.”
The pub was allowed to retain its Monday night jazz sessions but extensions to the licence were refused.
Outside the meeting, jubilant residents cheered their lawyer, Anna Mathias, and vowed to keep close tabs on noise from the pub. Nicholas Evans, of Lower Christchurch Hill Residents Association, said: “The new licensing laws are intended to give people a voice in these decisions. It’s important that they use it and present a unified front.”
Pub manager Stuart Holms said the pub may apply for similar extensions again.