A recently-refurbished pub in Old Town will be allowed to install a mobile outdoor bar in its beer garden to sell drinks to its customers.

But Steve Griffiths, licensee of The Steam Railway Co, and Punch Pubs, the company that owns the Newport Street pub, will have to make some changes to sensure neighbours aren't inconvenienced, especially by noise.

Bosses at the pub had asked to vary its licence, to regularise its new refurbishment but also to be allowed to install and operate a mobile bar in its beer garden.

Punch Pubs’ lawyer Sarah Le Fevre told the three-councillor licensing panel considering the applications: “The garden is already used by the pub perfectly legally. It is within the existing licence that it can be used for the consumption of food and drink bought inside the premises.”

Swindon Advertiser: Steve Griffiths, licensee of Steam Railway CoSteve Griffiths, licensee of Steam Railway Co (Image: Newsquest)

One objection had been lodged against the application on grounds of noise. A resident had said: “It does not seem appropriate that myself and other residents in the locality of the pub should experience antisocial noise, vibration and light disturbance every day of the week.

“Walking past the pub I can see that large screens and huge speakers are in place, it has the look of a music/dance venue. Not an area where people will be sitting having a quiet drink.”

The neighbour had added that when residents had complained they had been met with “a very negative response”.

Operations manager Andy Nash said the company and Mr Griffiths were disappointed to have read that.

Questioned by councillors, Mr Griffiths said he monitored noise levels with a decibel meter app on his phone, and also judged noise by whether he could hear customers over the music playing.

He said: “If there’s music in the garden, I stop it between 10.30 and 11pm and just have it indoors.

“We did have an event in November 2021 which we had complaints after and that was a mistake, and I hold my hands up. We won’t be having that sort of thing again.”

After more questions on noise, access and CCTV, the panel decided, after an hour’s deliberation, to grant the change to the licence, with conditions on managing the noise.

The pub will also have to change the CCTV in the garden to show the faces of the customers being served at the new bar.

After hearing the decision, Mr Griffiths said: “I’m very pleased, this will allow us to operate at the pub’s full potential now.

“It’s a nice, relaxed area, and it’ll be good for people to be able to get a drink out of doors in the summer.”