The Bell Inn, a historic live music pub in Bath renowned since the 1960s, is once again fighting for its future amid plans to construct a block of nine flats adjoining the venue. Located on Walcot Street, The Bell has long been a hub for live performances and community gatherings. When the pub was at risk of being sold over a decade ago, a successful community campaign-backed by music legends Peter Gabriel and Robert Plant-secured its preservation.
Now, concerns have been raised that the adjacent proposed residential flats could lead to noise complaints, threatening the pub’s ability to host live music events. A spokesperson for The Bell expressed fears that noise complaints might force them to lessen or even cease their music programmes, which are central to their identity: “We don’t want to find ourselves being asked to turn down the music, reduce our events or change what makes The Bell what it is.”
Currently, there are no regulations to protect live music venues from noise complaints by residents moving in nearby. While developers are expected to provide sufficient soundproofing, the noise assessment submitted with this planning application downplays the pub’s activity by describing the live music as “occasional” and does not include noise measurements from inside the building. Instead, it only considers a scenario with 70 people conversing loudly in the beer garden.
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The Bell regularly hosts live music performances three to four nights a week, with DJs on weekends. Manager Arron Whan described the lively atmosphere, especially on Wednesday nights when bands draw a varied crowd including many students: “It is electric - especially on Wednesday nights when we have got a loud band on, we’ve got a lot of students in, and we have got the whole mixed crowd of people. It’s great.”
Mr Whan highlighted the broader challenges faced by live music venues, referencing the closure of the iconic Moles venue and noting the pressures of redevelopment, noise complaints, and financial difficulties exacerbated by the pandemic. ‘‘We have lost enough music venues already. Across the country, live music venues are suffering,’’ he said.
The Bell is now calling on local supporters and music enthusiasts to raise their voices by lodging objections against the planning application. To date, nearly 700 objections have been submitted. Mr Whan emphasised the importance of preserving such cultural spaces: “We don’t get many pubs like this in the county and we’ve got to look after these places because they are special.”