Lime Kiln Inn can serve drinks at events like bike nights after Somerset Council approved a license change despite noise concerns.
The owner, Jason Schinkel, wanted a change and an outdoor bar for special events. “Bike nights” are popular in the spring and summer, attracting many bikers.
Locals were not happy, however. They worried about motorcycle noise impacting their lives and also had concerns about traffic problems.
Somerset Council considered the concerns and granted the new license at a Shepton Mallet meeting. The pub can now serve drinks outside in an area east of the pub called the Paddocks.
The outdoor bar has set hours that match the pub’s hours: 11 AM to midnight, Monday to Saturday, and 12 PM to 11:30 PM on Sundays. The bar won’t open daily but will be for events like weddings, which happen from April to October.
Bike nights will also use the outdoor bar. These are Tuesday evenings, 6 PM to 9 PM, in spring and summer. Around 160 people attend, enjoying food, drinks, plus live music, even though the owner isn’t a bike fan himself.
Locals wanted bike nights, and he thought it sounded good since Pubs need ways to earn more. He describes the bikers as nice, middle-aged folk and noted the bar area gets crowded which led to the outdoor bar idea.
Burgers are also served there, and things wrap up around 8 or 9 PM. He thought everything would be alright, but the council licensing team contacted Jason, and he realized he needed a license change. Locals voiced concerns but were unnamed.
One neighbor found bike nights stressful and noted the pub already sells food and drinks, and you can eat outside when the weather’s nice. This neighbor complained weekly that serving drinks outside brings noise and the neighbor called the police once because bikers were racing on the A372.
The resident cannot stress enough how bad it will be, and another resident agreed about the noise, saying it would ruin garden enjoyment. They also worried about light pollution.
Police did not object formally but agreed on license rules with Jason. CCTV must be working, and the landlord will ID people.
The council voted to grant the license. Simon Carswell, who chaired the meeting, said objectors could get a review if issues arise, but they couldn’t decide based on future events.