Save BRIDGETOWN MONROE from closure
The Issue
🚨 WE NEED YOUR HELP URGENTLY 🚨
SAVE BRIDGETOWN MONROE. SAVE HITCHIN NIGHTLIFE. ❤️🌴
Bridgetown Monroe has been a highlight of Hitchin’s town centre since October 2023. We’ve created a unique environment for happy times, big laughs, strong drinks and memories that probably shouldn’t be repeated in front of your mother.
But right now, our future is genuinely at risk.
We are facing a premises licence review following noise complaints from a resident living behind the bar. If our licence is revoked, we close. If our hours are reduced to a level that makes the business financially unviable, we close.
And at the moment, the bar is operating around break-even. You may see that as an overshare, but if Woody is anything, he tells the truth. Occasionally, he overshares too.
This is Woody’s passion, his dream, his everything. The bar is his family’s future. The dream is that long after Woody has sipped his last shot of Wray, Monroe’s will still be standing, with his children hopefully running the place and wondering why their dad thought a tropical bar in Hitchin was a sensible idea.
That’s what’s at stake.
HOW HAVE WE GOT HERE?
For the past nine months, we have received noise complaints from one neighbour who lives behind the bar.
The complainant moved into the flats approximately 10 months ago, around 24 months after Monroe’s opened. Before that, we had operated for around two years without this particular neighbour raising complaints. Since the complaints began, we have worked extensively with the council to reduce noise and improve the situation.
We have removed speakers, removed DJ nights, changed our noise management plan, closed earlier, added dB restrictors to our music and managed customers outside the bar. We have lost turnover, lost customers and invested considerable time and money trying to find solutions.
You name it, we have done it.
We are not ignoring the problem. We are trying to solve it. And yet, despite the steps we have taken, the complaints have continued.
WHAT IS THE COMPLAINT ABOUT?
This is where things get difficult. The noise being complained about is understood is to be as loud as a low humming sound from a fridge during the early hours, around 1am–2am.
It is not being described by us as booming music, violence or rowdy customers. It is a noise issue, and we accept that noise can affect people differently.
But the question we are asking is: After all the changes we have made, is closing or severely restricting an established Hitchin business a proportionate solution? That is what the licence review will consider.
And that is why we need your support.
MONROE’S IS MORE THAN A BAR ❤️
If you know Monroe’s, you know we aren’t a loud, rowdy bar. We ain’t a club, we don’t even have a dance floor. We are closed most of the week and only busy on a Friday and Saturday night.
We create memories. It’s a place where people feel safe, where you can come alone or in big groups, and where you are guaranteed a fun night out. Our drinks are powerful, our customer service is second to none, and you can come and have a dance or simply chill on the sofas and relax with locals and friends.
We are currently recognised as BEST OVERALL BUSINESS IN HITCHIN 25/26, and over 40% of our guests are returning customers. We serve thousands of customers and employ staff. We bring people into Hitchin, create nights out and give people somewhere to celebrate birthdays, meet friends, dance, relax and enjoy themselves. We help make other venue’s busy, we help fill restaurants, and help bring customers to the square.
And yes, our drinks are strong. Woody would be disappointed if they weren’t.
Monroe’s is part of the town.
THIS IS BIGGER THAN JUST MONROE’S 🌴
Nightlife is dying everywhere in this country, and independent venues are facing increasing pressures. Rising costs, changing customer habits, licensing challenges and noise complaints all make it harder for businesses to survive.
Hitchin is a thriving town, but a town needs businesses, entertainment and places for people to enjoy themselves. If we lose our nightlife, we lose part of what makes a town worth visiting.
We want Hitchin to remain a place where people can go out, have fun, support local businesses and create memories. We want Monroe’s to be part of that future.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE LOSE?
If the council revokes our licence, Monroe’s CLOSES
If our hours are reduced to a level that makes the business unsustainable, Monroe’s CLOSES
That means Woody’s livelihood is gone. His family’s future is put at risk. Staff will lose their jobs. Hitchin loses another nightlife venue.
A business that has invested heavily in the town centre disappears. And that is why this is bigger than just Monroe’s.
WE NEED YOUR HELP ❤️
If you have ever had a night out at Monroe’s, celebrated a birthday with us, danced until your feet hurt, met friends, made memories or simply enjoyed a drink with us, please sign our petition. Or, if you just want to support Hitchin’s nightlife, we would be incredibly grateful for your support.
We will be delivering the petition to the council, MP’s and sharing the strength of support for Monroe’s with our local representatives. We want to show how much Monroe’s means to the people who visit, work in and love Hitchin. We cannot promise the outcome. We cannot control the decision. But we can make sure the people making that decision understand what is at stake. And we can make sure Monroe’s is not fighting this alone.
THIS IS MORE THAN SAVING MONROE’S.
+This is about supporting independent businesses.
+This is about protecting jobs.
+This is about keeping Hitchin lively.
+This is about finding sensible solutions to noise issues without automatically destroying businesses.
+This is about making sure there is still somewhere to go when you want a great night out.
THIS IS ABOUT SAVING NIGHTLIFE IN GENERAL.
+So please, if you can, sign the petition.
+Share it. Tag your mates. Tell people about it.
And if you see Woody, give him a hug. He probably needs one.
Thank you for every single person who has supported Monroe’s since we opened. Every drink bought. Every dance. Every laugh. Every memory. Every time you’ve walked through those doors. You have helped build this place. Now we need your help to keep it standing. We have created memories, that will never be forgotten. Long may this continue, with your help.
ONLY AT MONROE’S. 🌴❤️
#SaveMonroes #SaveHitchinNightlife #SupportLocalBusiness #Hitchin #HitchinNightlife #BridgetownMonroe #SaveOurNightlife #SupportIndependentBusiness
PLEASE SHARE THIS POST. ❤️
Thank you everyone. From the bottom of our hearts.
310
The Issue
🚨 WE NEED YOUR HELP URGENTLY 🚨
SAVE BRIDGETOWN MONROE. SAVE HITCHIN NIGHTLIFE. ❤️🌴
Bridgetown Monroe has been a highlight of Hitchin’s town centre since October 2023. We’ve created a unique environment for happy times, big laughs, strong drinks and memories that probably shouldn’t be repeated in front of your mother.
But right now, our future is genuinely at risk.
We are facing a premises licence review following noise complaints from a resident living behind the bar. If our licence is revoked, we close. If our hours are reduced to a level that makes the business financially unviable, we close.
And at the moment, the bar is operating around break-even. You may see that as an overshare, but if Woody is anything, he tells the truth. Occasionally, he overshares too.
This is Woody’s passion, his dream, his everything. The bar is his family’s future. The dream is that long after Woody has sipped his last shot of Wray, Monroe’s will still be standing, with his children hopefully running the place and wondering why their dad thought a tropical bar in Hitchin was a sensible idea.
That’s what’s at stake.
HOW HAVE WE GOT HERE?
For the past nine months, we have received noise complaints from one neighbour who lives behind the bar.
The complainant moved into the flats approximately 10 months ago, around 24 months after Monroe’s opened. Before that, we had operated for around two years without this particular neighbour raising complaints. Since the complaints began, we have worked extensively with the council to reduce noise and improve the situation.
We have removed speakers, removed DJ nights, changed our noise management plan, closed earlier, added dB restrictors to our music and managed customers outside the bar. We have lost turnover, lost customers and invested considerable time and money trying to find solutions.
You name it, we have done it.
We are not ignoring the problem. We are trying to solve it. And yet, despite the steps we have taken, the complaints have continued.
WHAT IS THE COMPLAINT ABOUT?
This is where things get difficult. The noise being complained about is understood is to be as loud as a low humming sound from a fridge during the early hours, around 1am–2am.
It is not being described by us as booming music, violence or rowdy customers. It is a noise issue, and we accept that noise can affect people differently.
But the question we are asking is: After all the changes we have made, is closing or severely restricting an established Hitchin business a proportionate solution? That is what the licence review will consider.
And that is why we need your support.
MONROE’S IS MORE THAN A BAR ❤️
If you know Monroe’s, you know we aren’t a loud, rowdy bar. We ain’t a club, we don’t even have a dance floor. We are closed most of the week and only busy on a Friday and Saturday night.
We create memories. It’s a place where people feel safe, where you can come alone or in big groups, and where you are guaranteed a fun night out. Our drinks are powerful, our customer service is second to none, and you can come and have a dance or simply chill on the sofas and relax with locals and friends.
We are currently recognised as BEST OVERALL BUSINESS IN HITCHIN 25/26, and over 40% of our guests are returning customers. We serve thousands of customers and employ staff. We bring people into Hitchin, create nights out and give people somewhere to celebrate birthdays, meet friends, dance, relax and enjoy themselves. We help make other venue’s busy, we help fill restaurants, and help bring customers to the square.
And yes, our drinks are strong. Woody would be disappointed if they weren’t.
Monroe’s is part of the town.
THIS IS BIGGER THAN JUST MONROE’S 🌴
Nightlife is dying everywhere in this country, and independent venues are facing increasing pressures. Rising costs, changing customer habits, licensing challenges and noise complaints all make it harder for businesses to survive.
Hitchin is a thriving town, but a town needs businesses, entertainment and places for people to enjoy themselves. If we lose our nightlife, we lose part of what makes a town worth visiting.
We want Hitchin to remain a place where people can go out, have fun, support local businesses and create memories. We want Monroe’s to be part of that future.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE LOSE?
If the council revokes our licence, Monroe’s CLOSES
If our hours are reduced to a level that makes the business unsustainable, Monroe’s CLOSES
That means Woody’s livelihood is gone. His family’s future is put at risk. Staff will lose their jobs. Hitchin loses another nightlife venue.
A business that has invested heavily in the town centre disappears. And that is why this is bigger than just Monroe’s.
WE NEED YOUR HELP ❤️
If you have ever had a night out at Monroe’s, celebrated a birthday with us, danced until your feet hurt, met friends, made memories or simply enjoyed a drink with us, please sign our petition. Or, if you just want to support Hitchin’s nightlife, we would be incredibly grateful for your support.
We will be delivering the petition to the council, MP’s and sharing the strength of support for Monroe’s with our local representatives. We want to show how much Monroe’s means to the people who visit, work in and love Hitchin. We cannot promise the outcome. We cannot control the decision. But we can make sure the people making that decision understand what is at stake. And we can make sure Monroe’s is not fighting this alone.
THIS IS MORE THAN SAVING MONROE’S.
+This is about supporting independent businesses.
+This is about protecting jobs.
+This is about keeping Hitchin lively.
+This is about finding sensible solutions to noise issues without automatically destroying businesses.
+This is about making sure there is still somewhere to go when you want a great night out.
THIS IS ABOUT SAVING NIGHTLIFE IN GENERAL.
+So please, if you can, sign the petition.
+Share it. Tag your mates. Tell people about it.
And if you see Woody, give him a hug. He probably needs one.
Thank you for every single person who has supported Monroe’s since we opened. Every drink bought. Every dance. Every laugh. Every memory. Every time you’ve walked through those doors. You have helped build this place. Now we need your help to keep it standing. We have created memories, that will never be forgotten. Long may this continue, with your help.
ONLY AT MONROE’S. 🌴❤️
#SaveMonroes #SaveHitchinNightlife #SupportLocalBusiness #Hitchin #HitchinNightlife #BridgetownMonroe #SaveOurNightlife #SupportIndependentBusiness
PLEASE SHARE THIS POST. ❤️
Thank you everyone. From the bottom of our hearts.
Supporter Voices
Petition Updates
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Petition created on 17 September 2026