Neighbours of a York hotel have raised their concerns about the noise coming from its grounds.
They detailed their complaints as Grays Court Hotel on Chapter House Street applied to extend its alcohol licence.
Residents even released a recording of a brass band performance in the hotel grounds to press home their case.
Nevertheless, the application was approved by the licensing committee on Tuesday (6 May), and will allow guests to take drinks to and from a planned coach house extension and its garden.
Jonathan Smith, acting for hotel owner Helen Heraty, said it would mean guests could take leftover drinks with them after meals but they would be discouraged from drinking en route.
But neighbour Kevin Mohan said he had been disturbed by early morning food deliveries to the hotel and events while also having to collect empty bottles left near his house.
City of York Council’s approval of the application allows Grays Court sell alcohol to visitors for off-premises consumption from 10am to 11.30pm every day.
Supply will be available to hotel guests 24 hours a day.
It also licences outdoor areas including a path leading to the coach house building which is set to be converted into extra rooms after plans were approved in 2022.
Alcohol sold for drinking outside the hotel grounds will be given in sealed containers.
Guests would be discouraged from drinking in the areas between the gardens, event space and their rooms unless it is for photoshoots for weddings.
It follows four previous licensing applications from Grays Court since the original bid lodged when the business opened in 2010.
All of them were opposed by some neighbours including Mr Mohan, with a public inquiry held over noise complaints in 2013.
An application to vary the hotel’s licensing conditions was refused in 2018.
Buffer zone
Mr Mohan told the hearing he objected to the application after the venue had not dealt with previous issues including the brass band concert.
A video taken by one of his neighbours and submitted to the council shows brass instruments and drums could be heard from their garden.
The neighbour said: “If you’re a family do you want to be sitting there reading the Sunday paper would you want to have that next door?
“On Bank Holiday Monday I was up at 5.45am because of a food waste delivery.
“We’ve had to clear up empty bottles from outside our house that have been brought out by people at 21st birthday parties at the hotel, it’s not happened as often lately but it could happen again.
“The applications keep going on and on, it’s got to stop somewhere.”
The hotel’s agent Mr Smith said the off licence bid was aimed at people visiting its restaurant and not the general public who could buy alcohol cheaper elsewhere.
He added the brass band concert took place during an afternoon for less than two hours but had otherwise not had complaints in recent years.
The applicant’s lawyer said: “The application has nothing to do with live music, the hotel could have had live music concerts and it could have had people sat outside if it wanted to but didn’t, but we’re painted as a terrible neighbour.
“Objectors say the hotel’s exploiting its licensing conditions but there’s always been a buffer zone between neighbours’ homes and where hotel guests can drink.
“It hasn’t fully taken advantage of being allowed to host live music and it won’t be using the brass band again.
“The cheapest bottle of wine at the hotel is £39, are people going to come in and buy that or get one from a convenience store?”