Neighbours voice toll of repeated weekend disturbances
Residents living near the Berwick Manor Hotel in Rainham say weekend events at the venue have become so disruptive they feel compelled to leave their homes to find respite. Complaints about noise, late-night fireworks and foul language have prompted a formal review of the hotel’s premises licence by Havering Council’s licensing committee.
The 14-room countryside hotel on Berwick Pond Road (RM13 9EL) has drawn a string of objections from neighbours who described the cumulative impact on their households. One resident told councillors the situation was having a "massive" effect on his family’s mental and physical wellbeing and that he worried about letting his children outside when events were under way.
"I don't want to walk out in my garden and hear rude words all the time," he said. "I don't want to hear fireworks after 11pm."
Another neighbour told the committee she "just couldn't cope" with what she called relentless "swearing, the abuse, the screaming and the music that just thumps". Several residents reported heading out every weekend simply to escape the noise.
Hearing adjourned; decision due in August
The licensing committee had been due to consider the matter this week, but the operator was unable to attend. At the request of the operator’s legal representative, councillors agreed to adjourn and reconvene on 6 August. Committee chair Cllr Christine Vickery confirmed the new hearing date during the session.
Importantly, licensing officers are not seeking to remove the venue’s licence altogether. Instead, they have asked the panel to prohibit regular entertainment in the garden area, reflecting the pattern of complaints linked to outdoor events.
Noise controls not used, council says
Council officers said a sound limiter was installed at the premises in November 2021 as part of measures to keep noise at manageable levels. However, during a compliance visit last August, the device was found not to be in operation. Officers also reported that an agreed noise management plan was not being used at that time.
The licensing review will weigh the venue’s operation against the borough’s licensing objectives, which include preventing public nuisance. Where conditions are found to be breached or ineffective, committees typically consider practical steps to curb nuisance before contemplating suspension or revocation.
What the council is considering
- Maintaining the premises licence but introducing or tightening conditions to manage noise.
- Restricting outdoor entertainment, especially late at night, to reduce impact on neighbours.
- Requiring demonstrable use of the installed sound limiter and adherence to a robust noise plan.
Residents’ evidence, along with representations from the operator and licensing officers, will inform the committee’s decision. Any new conditions would be enforceable and subject to follow-up visits.
Venue and review at a glance
| Venue | Berwick Manor Hotel |
|---|---|
| Address | Berwick Pond Road, Rainham, RM13 9EL |
| Rooms | 14 |
| Hearing date | 6 August (adjourned from this week) |
| Officer request | Ban on regular outdoor entertainment in garden area |
| Controls noted by council | Sound limiter installed Nov 2021; not in use at visit last August |
What neighbours and the venue can expect next
At the reconvened hearing, councillors will question the operator about event management, previous compliance checks and how the venue intends to minimise disturbance. If fresh conditions are imposed, the onus will be on the operator to demonstrate they are being followed, particularly when it comes to controlling amplified music and dispersal of guests late at night.
For residents, the outcome could bring stricter rules on outdoor functions and a clearer route for reporting breaches. For the operator, it may mean tighter parameters for events hosted in the garden and proof that agreed controls, such as the limiter and a live noise plan, are in place whenever entertainment is provided.
Anyone affected by noise from licensed premises can keep a simple log of dates, times and the nature of disturbance to support any future representations. While the committee will focus on evidence already before it, continued reporting to the council’s licensing and environmental health teams remains important if problems persist.
