Venuewatch: Royal Function Rooms

Grim times in Rochester, as Medway Council seems to be issuing noise abatement notices the way some other councils give out leaflets featuring councillor's faces.

The Royal Function Rooms is the latest to get a 'shut up' order:

The orders instruct venues not to play "live and loud amplified music" to avoid a £20,000 fine or having amps confiscated.

But music promoters say just one angry neighbour can hold an entire venue to ransom as the orders do not say how loud is too loud.

The pub owners points out that when it was built, there were no neigbours, so everyone who lives nearby is living in a house whose builders have chosen to construct near a pub; you'd think they'd make allowances.