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Residents near The Earl of Lonsdale pub in London have complained to a licensing sub-committee about noise disturbances caused by staff parties on the roof terrace. Despite Samuel Smith brewery’s policy of banning mobile phones and other technology to create a “haven from the digital world,” residents say they are not benefiting from this tranquillity due to late-night disturbances and amplified music from the pub’s events. The pub has since closed off its roof terrace, issued warnings to staff involved, and plans to add acoustic mitigating greenery to reduce noise.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In Notting Hill, the Earl of Lonsdale, a pub owned by Samuel Smith known for its ban on mobile phones and digital devices, is facing scrutiny from local residents over noisy staff parties held on the roof terrace. Residents complained to the Kensington and Chelsea Licensing Sub-Committee about disturbances caused by these gatherings. Legal Counsel for Samuel Smith stated that this is unprecedented for any of their pubs. Coleville ward Councillor Jack Reason highlighted the narrow streets and proximity of homes, emphasizing how rooftop activities are visible from residents' windows. Shapur Keshvari, who applied for a review of the pub's license, cited repeated incidents of public nuisance. Despite these complaints, Samuel Smith maintains they are responsible operators and offered to look into adding acoustic greenery to reduce noise.
Written for “Pub Noise Complaints” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 74245 · logged 2026-10-12
The Earl of Lonsdale, close to Notting Hill Gate Station, is part of the Samuel Smith brewery chain which has a ban on phones, laptops or other technology.
asserted
which → have → phones
Samuel Smith calls their pubs a “haven from the digital world”, playing neither music nor using TVs in their venues.
asserted
Smith → call → venues
However several people living near the Victorian-era pub, which was refurbished in 2012, say that they are not benefiting from this supposed tranquillity.
asserted
they → live → tranquillity
Residents, who have called for a review of the pub’s licence, told a Kensington and Chelsea Licensing Sub-Committee that staff parties and gatherings held on the roof terrace had been causing a disturbance.
asserted
parties → call → disturbance
Legal Counsel for Samuel Smith said that he believes this is the first time a pub affiliated with the brewery has ever been called in for a licensing review.
asserted
pub → say → review
A statement by Coleville ward Councillor Jack Reason, which was read out to the sub-committee, said: “The streets around [the pub] are narrow and the homes opposite so close that what happened on that roof is effectively happening in front of people’s windows.”
asserted
happened → read → windows
Mr Shapur Keshvari, who applied to have the licence reviewed, said there had been repeated incidents of public nuisance coming from the pub over the summer months.
asserted
licence → apply → months
His review application said: “The complaint is cumulative.
asserted
complaint → say → ?
It concerns a recurring pattern rather than a single incident: amplified music and congregation immediately outside the pub, late-night disturbance from the beer garden or premises, and repeated afterhours occupation or continued availability of external seating.
asserted
It → concern → seating
Mr Keshvari said that he had repeatedly tried to engage with the pub, as well as contacting the council regarding these issues, to no lasting effect.
asserted
he → say → effect
Chair of the Ladbroke Association, Sophia Lambert, and Chair of The Pembridge Association, Ms Fiona Fleming-Brown, also attended the hearing in support of the application.
asserted
Chair → attend → application
Ms Fleming-Brown told the sub-committee that members complained about recent disturbances from The Earl throughout the summer “especially the party on the flat roof”.
asserted
members → tell → roof
“The Earl is a fine old pub and residents want it to thrive but without parties on the roof outside their windows,” she added.
asserted
she → want → windows
Legal Counsel from the pub said the events staff held on the roof included a small birthday party for a chef and a film night.
asserted
staff → say → chef
“We accept and it’s obvious here that staff have been socialising on the roof and causing a disturbance.
asserted
staff → accept → disturbance
We agree it is unacceptable and we apologise profusely for it,” he said.
asserted
he → agree → it
The roof terrace has now been closed off and the Designated Premises Supervisor has been issued a formal written warning, as well as being removed from that responsibility.
asserted
Supervisor → close → responsibility
Outdoor furniture had also been replaced so that it could be brought inside at 10pm.
uncertain
it → replace → pm
The pub did not agree to shutting the beer garden an hour before its closing time, although it was happy to look into adding acoustic mitigating greenery to reduce the noise.
“We recognise mistakes have been made but on the whole we would say we are responsible operators,” he added.
asserted
he → agree → whole
Read More
A formal decision will be made within five working days of the licence review.
asserted
decision → read → review
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