Oxford Greene King pub causes 'urination in public' fears

North Parade institution The Gardeners Arms closed late last year.

And next week, members of Oxford City Council’s licensing sub-committee will decide whether to wave through changes to the Greene King boozer’s premises licence.

Pub bosses want to change the internal layout of the pub and have asked for permission to serve alcohol and play live music until midnight during the week and 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.

In documents shared ahead of next Tuesday’s meeting, Greene King said that – as part of the licensing conditions – all windows and external doors would be kept shut during ‘regulated entertainment’ such as gig nights.

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Noise checks would be carried out at the nearest neighbouring property. And signs would ask customers leaving the pub to ‘respect the rights of nearby residents not to be disturbed’.

Thames Valley Police, the fire and rescue service, and the licensing authority have raised no objection to the proposed changes.

But almost 20 residents have so far contacted the council to voice their concerns to the amendments.

They include at least three Oxford professors, among them historian and journalist Timothy Garton Ash.

The multi-award winning academic, a fellow at St Antony’s College and Canterbury Road resident told council officers that – if approved – the changes would be ‘very likely to have a significant deleterious effect on the atmosphere of a quiet residential area’.

The Gardeners Arms (Image: Oxford Mail)

“My biggest concern is for public nuisance in the form of excessive noise late at night. The pub is not designed as a music venue with appropriate sound insulation. I anticipate that loud music inside the venue will be audible across the neighbourhood,” he said.

Prof Garton Ash had concerns for ‘safety and public order’, he said. “With an increased crowd attending the pub until later at night, more alcoholic drinks will be consumed, with all of the attendant problems – litter, fighting, shouting, public urination, etcetera.

“North Parade experienced these issues some time ago when a wine bar occupied 9B North Parade.”

A number of those objecting to the Greene King plans said it should be considered in the context of development works in the area, including proposals for new student accommodation off Bevington Road.

Prof Richard Katz said he supported North Parade’s two pubs, describing them as ‘anchors of the local community’.

He enjoyed the ‘faint sounds of jazz that waft up from the Rose and Crown pub – [that] are always finished by 9pm’.

But Prof Katz said he objected to sounds ‘generated by modern amplification equipment, drum kits, or patrons shouting over the ambient noise level’ into the night, which he feared would be the consequence if the Gardeners Arms won its licensing bid.

The licence application could be countered on grounds of prevention of harm to children, prevention of crime and disorder, and maintain public safety, it was argued.

Several letter writers feared that an alleyway next to the pub would start to be used ‘for smoking and drinking’. Such use had previously been ‘strictly forbidden’ by the former publicans.

Greene King business development manager Wayne Farrell said: “We want to ensure The Gardeners Arms is a pub the local community can be proud of which people enjoy for years to come.

“Having received feedback during the consultation process we have made significant changes to our application to help ensure the pub serve the needs of the local community.”

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward