A pub in a quiet rural village a few miles from Ashby has been blocked from hosting a live band outdoors at a wedding reception due to noise concerns.

At a South Derbyshire District Council licensing hearing today (June 3), councillors chose to approve a planned temporary event notice for a wedding reception at The Chequers Inn in High Street, Ticknall.

The hearing was told that the pub has a history of noise complaints following every event it has hosted, including from the beer garden marquee, though officials say this is largely within the 65 decibel limit imposed in 2022 following a string of incidents.

A 65 decibel limit is said to be the equivalent of a normal conversation.

During the hearing, environmental health officials said the pub garden is entirely surrounded by old homes with single glazing.

When events are hosted at the pub – seven during 2024 – the noise within the homes, which has been monitored as 65 decibels or lower, is said to be so loud that "you can't hear the TV".

Due to the peaceful nature of the rural village, 65 decibels of noise is said to be heard across the village, with officials telling the hearing: "A band is likely to exceed a 65 decibel limit and we have had complaints when the pub is compliant. 

"We will likely also have complaints if the noise is higher than that and would represent a noise nuisance.

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"We don't take these steps lightly. It is rare that we object to a temporary event notice."

The hearing was told that the pub's licensee, Tony Matthews, applied to host the wedding reception for June 7, this weekend, with a live band to play outside, with a drumkit.

Officials said live music is unpredictable and did not expect this to be able to be contained to the 65 decibel limit.

They said: "Knowing there are noise issues it is a shame they didn't come to us before booking the event."

Officials said they were happy for the band to perform indoors and with conditions banning them from performing outside past 10pm and not to breach the 65 decibel noise limit throughout the event – scheduled to run from 11am to 11pm.

Councillors on the licensing panel agreed to permit the event but on the conditions that all external activity ceased at 10pm, that the 65 decibel noise limit cannot be breached and that guests would be urged to leave the venue quietly and in an orderly fashion.

They said it was "reasonable and proportionate" to allow the event, with the conditions in place to address concerns.