COMMUNITY SUPPORT NEEDED

Standing Together Against an Ongoing Noise Complaint – The Golden Lion, Fareham

Dear Neighbours and Friends,

We are reaching out to you—our valued community—for your support during an ongoing issue that is deeply affecting our business and livelihood.

Over recent months, we have been the subject of repeated noise complaints. We want to reassure you that we have taken this matter extremely seriously and have made every possible effort to address concerns and minimise any disruption.

Here are the steps we have taken:

Adjusted operating hours to reduce late-night impact
Installed secondary glazing to limit sound escape
Added sound mats and heavy curtains for additional sound dampening
Encouraged all customers to use the rear entrance to minimise street noise
Reduced overall music levels significantly
Invested in an industrial-grade sound meter, with recorded evidence consistently showing levels at or below 40 decibels (considered low and comparable to a quiet conversation)
Despite these extensive measures, complaints have continued.

We are also concerned about the way this situation is being handled. Environmental Health Officers (EHO) have not used sound measurement equipment during visits, instead relying—by their own words—on “specially trained ears.” This raises questions about the objectivity and fairness of the process.

Additionally, it is important to note that previous management operated the same type of events, with similar bands and on the same nights, yet did not face these complaints.

Given all of this, we cannot help but feel that this situation may be becoming personal. As a same-sex couple running this business, we are deeply troubled by the possibility that bias may be playing a role.

We Need Your Support

If you have visited us, supported us, or simply believe in fairness and community spirit, we kindly ask:

Sign our petition, ALSO available in the pub
Provide a short personal statement describing your experience at our venue and the steps you’ve seen us take to reduce noise
Share your support and speak up if you feel we are being treated unfairly
Your voice can make a real difference.

We are proud to be part of this community and have always strived to create a welcoming, respectful environment for everyone.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support you can offer—it truly means a great deal to us.