Pubs, bars and clubs

People drinking in a bar Under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Northern Ireland Order 1985, pubs, bars and clubs must have an entertainment licence. They must apply to our Building Control Service for this licence; all licenses are issued by the council.

These licences are issued by our building control inspectors. From 1 April 2012, the Noise Act 1996 will apply to night-time noise from certain licenced premises between 11pm and 7am. This includes premises holding an entertainment, liquor licence and certain registered clubs.

If a premises is making excessive noise we will serve them with a warning notice asking them to reduce the noise within ten minutes. If the person responsible does not comply with the notice, we will take noise measurements.

Failure to comply with the permitted level can result in a fixed penalty fine of £500 or prosecution in the courts.

If you feel noise from a nearby pub, bar or club is unreasonable, call us on 028 9037 3006 and we'll investigate your complaint.

We'll check the conditions of the licence and, if we find they aren't being met, we'll take corrective action. If the licensee does not comply with our requests we may take legal action against them.

If the excessive noise is caused by defective sound insulation, such as windows, fire doors or ventilation outlets, we may recommend structural improvements to resolve the problem.

Or, if further investigation is required, we may visit you to assess the noise or ask you to keep a diary recording the dates and times of each disturbance. This helps our officers to work out the best time to hear the noise, as well as gathering important evidence which may be needed if legal action is required.

As a resident, you also have the right to object to an entertainment licence being granted or renewed if you feel it would disturb you.