South Harrow pub stopped from late-night opening

A street corner pub in South Harrow that hosts live bands has been denied permission to open later into the night.

Pints can normally be pulled at The Shawl in Northolt Road until 11pm - with the doors closing half an hour later - but its owner applied to Harrow Council to be able to serve booze up to 11.30pm Monday to Thursday, to 1am Friday and Saturday and midnight on Sunday, including 30 minutes drinking up time each day.

However, a council officer rejected the proposal under delegated powers on November 25 on the grounds "it would result in increased disturbance and general activity at unsocial hours to the detriment of the amenities of neighbouring properties".

Five complaints had been received by local residents including one from David and Jean Marling, of Valentine Road, who, as the neighbours closest to the pub, observed: "The level of noise we have suffered over the past years, despite three changes of various owners and managers, was, and still is, totally unacceptable.

"There is no sound proofing or beat-cancelling equipment, and the doors are not kept shut, especially in the summer.

"Since pubs open seven days a week, there's no such thing as an early night."

The Shawl has operated since 1995, when the original owners won planning permission on appeal to convert a former carpet shop into a boozer, with strict trading conditions imposed because of its residential location.

A similar bid for an extension to the hostelry's open times was turned down by the council in August 2006.