The Central Bar in Leith (petition)

[Jack]

I don't drink in the Central but I think its absolutely ridiculous that 1 person can complain about a Leith institution that been there for donkeys years and the bar is banned from making music man! This isn't really just about the Central. I've known a few music venues around Edinburgh that have had similar imposed some have had to close their doors as a result.

I urge you all to sign this petition. Thank you.

https://www.change.org/p/preserve-the-music-license-for-the-central-bar-in-leith?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_37736271_en-GB%3A9&recruited_by_id=d27d5e90-8073-11ee-89e5-15195defe60b&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=share_for_starters_page&share_bandit_exp=initial-37736271-en-GB

The Central Bar, Leith, is more than just a place to grab a pint. It's an integral part of our community providing live music and entertainment that brings us together and enriches our cultural landscape. However, the pub's music license has been revoked!

The Central Bar has a very long history in Leith, we've all been in there after work, to meet our friends and family, or sauntered in for a friendly pint and sing a long with our local bands. The Central has been a vital community venue for Leithers, for decades. There's rarely any trouble, the drinks and staff are great and it's always been a great community hotspot to see old and new faces. We've all enjoyed great nights of music from the likes of Andy Chung!

Sadly, Edinburgh council have revoked the music license due to 'noise' complaints from neighbours. Only, there are no neighbours!

So why now, given there are umpteen music venues up and down Leith Walk?

Surely this is a step too far, even for the council, considering music venues are a vital resource to local economies and the Central has been pivotal to this in Leith, for decades.

According to UK Music’s Wish You Were Here report (2019), music tourism contributes £4.7 billion annually to the UK economy and supports 45,000 jobs nationwide. There are always new folks who enjoy our local culture sharing a laugh and a pint or two in our famous bar, here in sunny Leith. So what is the council doing removing the music license from a community pub that's part of our history?

The loss of this license would not only impact the pub but also local musicians who rely on these venues for exposure and income. In addition, it would deprive residents and visitors of diverse musical experiences that contribute significantly to our cultural identity.

We urge the licensing authorities to consider these implications seriously - removing the Central's music license will only negatively impact our community's vibrancy and economic health.

Please sign this petition if you believe in preserving live music at our beloved local Central Bar in Leith.

[Hibs4185]

It’s probably the Leith Community Council. They are a bunch of *ankers and not one of them are from Leith

[Pretty Boy]

The kind of people that buy a flat near a pub then complain about the noise are the same types who move in near a church and comparing about bells, train tracks and trains, schools and children etc etc.

********s who think the world revolves around them. Don't want pub noise near you? Don't move into a flat or house next to a pub. It's that simple.

Petition signed.

As an aside the Central is one of the finest looking bars in Edinburgh. Losing it would be verging on cultural vandalism.

[Bostonhibby]

Signed.

The gentrification of Leith for some?

Maybe they should open it as a jazz club or get some opera going[emoji16]

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[Jack]

Remember and click the correct button after signing otherwise you may get a few emails suggesting other campaigns you might be interested in - but are more likely not to be interested in!

No. I don’t want to hear about this petition’s progress or other relevant petitions.

[Mon Dieu4]

Hopefully the same thing happens here that did when another erky tried to lose Storries their late license, backfired spectacularly

[Ozyhibby]

I drink in the Central bar about 4 times a year, usually on a Saturday when there is a band on and always have a great night. And it’s cheap as chips to boot. Would be a real shame if they had to stop the music.
Council have been destroying Edinburgh’s music scene for years.


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[weecounty hibby]

Signed. Currently in the Central just now. About 10 of us from our bus drink here before every home game. Great pub. Have passed the petition round all our guys and all have signed and shared

[Northernhibee]

I don't even drink and I've signed it. What sort of fanny buys a flat near a pub that does live music, then complains about a pub with live music?

[Just Alf]

I don't even drink and I've signed it. What sort of fanny buys a flat near a pub that does live music, then complains about a pub with live music?Agreed, it's incredible... what's even worse is that someone somewhere in local government thought it was a valid complaint!!!

[Pretty Boy]

I don't even drink and I've signed it. What sort of fanny buys a flat near a pub that does live music, then complains about a pub with live music?

Nouveau Leith.

Some plum who wants to live in Leith as long as it is absolutely nothing like actually living in Leith. Happening the world over.

[Hibrandenburg]

I don't even drink and I've signed it. What sort of fanny buys a flat near a pub that does live music, then complains about a pub with live music?

Happened all over Berlin. The old western side of the city had some great local music venues that were forced to close or change their business operations once the home moving carousel started a few years after the wall came down. For some reason people from Swabia (area near Stuttgart) got a bad reputation for being behind a lot of the complaints.

[hibee_girl]

I don't even drink and I've signed it. What sort of fanny buys a flat near a pub that does live music, then complains about a pub with live music?

People love a moan.

I live next to the stadium and the Facebook page for our street is constantly full of people moaning about the noise, football fans in general and the road closures for the games. You chose to live next to a stadium, you have to accept there will be road closures!!

[Hibs4185]

People bought ‘townhouses’ next to Bellevue cash and carry

People complained that during the weekend the weekend, the cash and carry disturbed then.

Result….. cash and carry had to close on a Sunday and half day on a Saturday

Cash and carry been there 30 years. Flats knew the score when they bought. Brutal

[Mon Dieu4]

Probably be folk that own a property that don't even live in Edinburgh, there are a few flats round about me that I recently wanted to contact the owners about(they are rented) because I wanted to talk to them about the lack of weeding the pavements outside and the general upkeep of the area, I don't mind doing the bit in front of my house but they don't give a flying **** about their bit, all 4 of the properties I looked up are London based property companies, so happy to rake it in and do **** all for the local community

[SteveHFC]

People love a moan.

I live next to the stadium and the Facebook page for our street is constantly full of people moaning about the noise, football fans in general and the road closures for the games. You chose to live next to a stadium, you have to accept there will be road closures!!

Seen a user on the Edinburgh subreddit not long ago moaning because cars were parked around Easter Road on matchday.

[Kato]

Signed. Iconic Leith boozer. I don't come from Leith but lived there for 15 years. The Central has had its ups and downs but I always found it to be a hoot and the staff had the patience of angels. A joke when people complain about an area they've chosen to live in. Broughton Street and the Cowgate has had similar issues in the past.

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[Jack]

From Councillor Chas Booth



CENTRAL BAR

Late yesterday afternoon (Saturday 11 November) I received a reply from Edinburgh’s Licensing Standards Officers (LSOs) about the Central Bar and their ability to play music. I have copied that reply below, and attached screenshots of the email. I have redacted personal information but have changed nothing else. I have gone back to officers to ask if the venue has any right of appeal on the compliance notice.

As previously mentioned, I’m unfortunately unable to comment on this specific case because it might come to the Licensing Board in the future. I will attempt to respond to the many constituents who have contacted me about this in due course.

***

From: [redacted] on behalf of Licensing Standards <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2023 5:16:24 PM
To: Chas Booth <[email protected]>; [redacted]; Licensing Standards <[email protected]>; [redacted]
Cc: Adam Nols-McVey <[email protected]>; Katrina Faccenda <[email protected]>; [redacted]
Subject: RE: Central Bar

Good Afternoon All,

I am currently on rest days but I have hopped online after seeing the many social media posts alleging that Licensing Standards ‘revoked Central Bar’s music licence’. I have also seen bar have shared a petition via their Facebook page, urging people to sign to get their ‘music licence back.’ I had hoped to provide a short overview of where we currently are with The Central Bar, our team return to work on Monday afternoon where we will be happy to provide further information should it be required.

LSO [redacted] and I served the premises with a compliance notice (08/11/23) following a number of complaints from a local resident. 7 of which were witnessed and detailed on the compliance notice. In regards to the most recent witnessed breach (03/11/23) LSO [redacted] reports the premises had a 6 piece band performing, She also reports that [redacted] the supervisor on duty “acknowledged that she knew the band were loud and had asked them 3 times to lower the volume; however, hadn't followed through with this”. As with all visits the premises noise condition was clarified and on this occasion the premises were warned they may receive a compliance notice.

Please see below extract from compliance notice that was read out and sign by Mr [redacted] (manager on duty 08/11/23), [redacted] (issuing officer) and myself (witnessing officer)

“I, [redacted], a Licensing Standards Officer authorised under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 by the City of Edinburgh Council, in exercise of the powers prescribed in Section 14 of that Act,
hereby give notice that I believe the following licence condition to which your premises is subject has been breached:

The detail of this breach is outlined below:

All amplified music and vocals shall be so controlled as to be inaudible in neighbouring residential premises.

These breaches were witnessed on 10 September 2023, 16 September 2023 x2, 17 September 2023, 29 September 2023, 08 October 2023 and 03 November 2023 by Licensing Standards Officers.

I hereby require the following action be taken to remedy the breach:

Ensure that levels of amplified noise produced within your premises are so controlled as to comply with the above condition.

If any further breach of this condition is witnessed by officers of the City of Edinburgh Council, an application may be made to the City of Edinburgh Licensing Board to review your premises licence.”

Mr [redacted] stated twice during our visit that musicians will be ‘out of work because of this’. As a result of this comment I clarified to Mr [redacted] that notice required them to remedy the breach by controlling all future amplified noise to comply with the condition on their licence. He further stated that when the notice is sent on the licence holder ‘he’ will tell them ‘to pull live music’. It was once again explained they did not have to stop live music.

The decision to stop live music and karaoke was a voluntary decision taken by either the premises or the licence holder following our visit. It was not a request or even a suggestion from myself or [redacted].

I hope the above information is useful. If you do need anything more please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Kind Regards

[redacted]



[redacted]

Licensing Standards Officer

Regulatory Services | Directorate of Place

City of Edinburgh Council | Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG

Tel [redacted] | email [redacted]@edinburgh.gov.uk

[superfurryhibby]

The above post sheds a slightly different light on events.

Still based on getting complaints but the Central isn't exempt from noise restriction rules.

Quite bizarre that they voluntarily cease the live music rather than turn down the volume, or is there another twist to come :greengrin