A bar has won permission to open a beer garden despite fears drinkers would disturb neighbours.
The Bar in Deal High Street faced an official objection from the town council over potential noise nuisance.
But Dover District Council (DDC) has this week authorised the plans after boss Sarah Fox argued the retro-style watering hole was well-managed.
Speaking in the council chamber, Ms Fox said: “We’re applying for the change to have a beer garden and negate any future problems out the front because people would instead be using the back garden.
“It’s not a big area – it’s just to give customers the option to be in the garden rather than nipping out the front, which is what we’ve had objections to.
“We’re a well-run bar, we look after our customers, we follow the rules, and it’s the only way forward, I think, for us to keep progressing as a business.”
Owner Darren Thompson applied to alter the licence earlier this year.
Since 2018, the licence had barred use of the rear garden as it is shared with the flat above.
Instead, the designated smoking area was agreed to be at the front.
We’re a well-run bar, we look after our customers, we follow the rules, and it’s the only way forward, I think, for us to keep progressing as a business…
Mr Thomson’s new application received four statements supporting the move and one objection, from Deal Town Council.
The authority’s planning committee clerk, Laura Marney, argued its members objected due to the potential “detrimental effect on neighbouring properties”.
She also flagged concerns surrounding the “impact on the public highway” and “general amenity of the area” – but no neighbours objected to the scheme.
The chamber heard just one complaint had been registered against the premises in recent years regarding overcrowding outside the front of the bar and loud music.
But Kent Police had visited the site several times following the grievance being raised, and no issues were reported.
Speaking on the complaint at the sub-committee meeting on August 4, Ms Fox conceded “excessive people” had been outside on that occasion.
“There was no music playing,” she stressed.
“We took the furniture away and didn’t let anybody outside for four weeks to rein it back in, and since then, nobody misbehaves out the front at all.”
Deal resident Sally Freshwater also spoke in support of the application.
“This looks like a very sensible and controlled idea,” she said.
“The Bar is very well run, it’s a nice social space to be in, and I really can’t foresee any issues with allowing the garden to be used.
“I do think it needs to be a level playing field with businesses in Deal.
“We’ve got other licensed premises like The Deal Hoy and The Ship that have use of their garden, and it just seems unfair to me that this particular bar is being stopped from using theirs.”
After a short adjournment, members approved the variation, accepting conditions proposed by the applicant to close the garden at 9pm, with no music to be played.
