Petition against closure of Night & Day Manchester due to noise complaints

guitarfishbay · January 2014

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/manchester-city-council-to-remove-our-statutory-nuisance-abatement-notice

"We are extremely upset and distressed by the notice as we believe we are a key part of Manchester and have been for 23 years!

This one resident has lived here for less than 1 year and his threat could end an independent run business which has been a firm staple in the Manchester arts scene for over two decades. This will bring to an end the employment of everyone who works here, not to mention, destroy one of the major hubs for live music, for both local and international musicians.

We have worked tirelessly making the venue as sound proof as possible whilst spending thousands of none funded money to making sure the venue is extremely environmentally friendly.

We have tried to speak to the resident to try and explain the nature of our business and we thoroughly understand noise can be annoying to any ordinary person but why would you chose to move next door to a live music venue if noise is going to be an issue?

Please do not let this one complaint ruin what has been a great benefit to the people and city of Manchester!

Thank You

Night and Day staff"

Whether or not you like the venue or have even been it is worth being aware that this kind of thing is happening. It is up to you if you want to sign.

further · January 2014

Signed

guitarfishbay · January 2014

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/night-day-cafe-under-threat-6512779

"Bosses at a landmark Manchester gig venue say they are threatened with closure – because a neighbour has complained that it is too noisy.

The team behind Night and Day Cafe, which has helped launch the careers of bands like Elbow, has revealed that it has received a nuisance notice from Manchester Council.

Gareth Butterworth, the venue’s in-house promoter and booker, told the M.E.N. that the notice has been issued after one resident who moved nearby less than a year ago complained to the town hall about noise levels.

He added that the nuisance notice threatens Night and Day owners with a £20,000 fine – or six months in jail – if they do not turn the music down."

Gareth said such a fine would ruin the independently-run venue, while having to turn volume levels down low would put bands off from performing there, which would also wreck the business.

He added: “The worst case scenario is that we shut down – bringing an end the employment of everyone who works here, not to mention destroying one of the major hubs for live music in Manchester, for local and international musicians.

“It’s very upsetting. We understand that this resident has lived here for less than a year. We’re an independent business that’s been a staple of the Manchester arts scene for 23 years.

“We’ve spent thousands on sound-proofing the venue.

“And we tried to speak to the resident, to explain the nature of our business, and we understand noise can be annoying – but why would you choose to move next door to a live music venue if noise is going to be an issue?”

Gareth said they planned to appeal against the notice – and the venue has launched a petition asking for support which gained over 15,000 signatures* since being launched last night.

He added: “We plan to fight this and the amount of people signing the petition shows there are plenty of people supporting us.”

Night and Day, which is owned by Jan Oldenburg, has gigs on up to six nights a week – with live music finishing before midnight.

It will continue to put on shows while it appeals the notice.

* currently at 40k+

ICBM · January 2014

The arsehole in question probably got the house cheap because of the location too. I really can't understand why this sort of effectively retrospective complaint is even allowed - the venue was there first, period.

Shark_Eyes · January 2014

Signed, I played one of my first ever gigs there. It's a sweat filled corridor, but still.

ThePrettyDamned · January 2014

What a joke. Do your homework before you move in.

I'll not lie, I wouldn't want to live there. So I wouldn't move in!

mike_l · January 2014

Currently 54,202 including me.

I say get the pitch forks ready............

digitalscream · January 2014

Yep, I'm in too. Looks like this guy's going to be pretty unpopular...

TheOtherDennis · January 2014

Exactly the same thing happened a couple of years ago in Birmingham. Unfortunately, I can't remember which pub it happened so I can't find out what the outcome was, but the situation was identical - selfish idiot moves to within hearing distance of a long-established and very popular live venue and instantly complains about the noise. Wtf? I mean, you did your research about the area, didn't you??

mike_l · January 2014

One of the pubs in my town has a similar issue. The pub is quite busy, and has been for a long time. some posh "Okay Yah" types moved in, and within a couple of weeks were making noise complaints.

Wankers.

If you want quiet don't move near a pub/music/sports venue.

Handsome_Chris · January 2014

mike_l said:

One of the pubs in my town has a similar issue. The pub is quite busy, and has been for a long time. some posh "Okay Yah" types moved in, and within a couple of weeks were making noise complaints.

Wankers.

If you want quiet don't move near a pub/music/sports venue.

May I add airport to that list?

mike_l · January 2014

Handsome_Chris said:

If you want quiet don't move near a pub/music/sports venue.
May I add airport to that list?

Yes you may.

Now you mention it, when Alconbury airfield closed (USAF ceased flying from there) there was uproar from the locals when it was locally discussed about reopening as a civilian transport airfield.

Bearing in mind that most of the locals who complained/objected to this had lived there when aircraft like Phantoms (read pretty loud..) were based there flying 24hrs a day.........

ESBlonde · January 2014

Similar in my local town.

Ex Senior police officer moves next door to hotel which has been there a couple of hundred years and been run by the same guy for 23 years). Next - thing council insists on the posting of two registered goons on the door. Nothing but trouble since (it was a always well run establishment you'd take your mother to). And noise abatement notice too!

You'd think a former police officer would have noticed the bleedin' obviose sign 'HOTEL' right next to the house he was considering buying. TWUNT!

chrisj1602 · January 2014

The thing is, its not the only music venue on Oldham St, there's Dry Bar next door too, Matt & Phreds down the road, plus other pubs, and Frog & Bucket Comedy Club. Its a busy part of a city centre, not a country lane. What a dick!

ICBM · January 2014

ThePrettyDamned said:

What a joke. Do your homework before you move in.

I suspect it's worse than that - they *did* do their homework. They know that if they buy a place which is undervalued because it's next to a venue, then get the venue closed down, the value of the house goes up drastically.

mike_l · January 2014

ICBM said:

ThePrettyDamned said:

What a joke. Do your homework before you move in.
I suspect it's worse than that - they *did* do their homework. They know that if they buy a place which is undervalued because it's next to a venue, then get the venue closed down, the value of the house goes up drastically.

Which makes him a selfish Charlie Uniform November Tango, who needs impailing on a large spike.

Bellycaster · January 2014

Signed.

I hope this Tosser get's a massive F.O

Cirrus · January 2014

TheOtherDennis;134989" said:
Exactly the same thing happened a couple of years ago in Birmingham. Unfortunately, I can't remember which pub it happened so I can't find out what the outcome was, but the situation was identical - selfish idiot moves to within hearing distance of a long-established and very popular live venue and instantly complains about the noise. Wtf? I mean, you did your research about the area, didn't you??

The Roadhouse perchance? Once thriving venue, now has a db meter and sound is generally ropey because a nun amplified snare hit is enough to make it go red - so they compensate by making everything else inaudible.

streethawk · January 2014

I wonder if this is a symptom of 'northern quarter' gentrification?

Quite a high ratio of twats there these days.

Went to watch United v Spurs the other week in the Tibb St Tavern, had to leave at half time - cheers going up for Spurs was irking me. I think me and one other bloke at the bar were the only locals in the place!

vasselmeyer · January 2014

streethawk said:

I wonder if this is a symptom of 'northern quarter' gentrification?

I think you'll find that a lot of that is down to the BBC moving into Media City along with all the other supporting services businesses. We've had an influx of BBC meeja types moving into my town where they've discovered they can buy a four-bedroom detached with a decent garden for cash after selling their two bedroom flat in London.

johnnyurq · January 2014

Signed.

Bloody idiots doing this kind of shit.

We have a venue or two suffering the same sort of silliness.

menamestom · January 2014

Signed too. I've played there many times and wouldn't like it to close. But the PA they have is well over specced for the size of venue. I went to watch a band there once and it took 3 days for my hearing to return. They need to manage the sound levels better there and the fact the PA is facing a glass frontage means it just booms out onto the street. Reducing it to still loud but reasonable levels would be better for everybody. But noise outside shouldn't be an issue in a busy city centre, the council are serving the notice but the place has always been loud, the council should have thought about it before granting planning permission for flats opposite a venue in the first place.

fretmeister · January 2014

And the other side of the story that says there is NO risk of closure and the residents (some of them been there for a decade) merely want the volume turned down to it's previous levels...

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/News/Night-And-Day-The-Other-Side

guitarfishbay · January 2014

Interesting, just read it.

The MEN also ran a story with the resident here http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/night-day-cafe-neighbour-receives-6519139?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+menews+(Manchester+Evening+News+-+RSS+Feed)

badlydrawnbanjo · January 2014

Ooops. Sorry, just seen Fretmeister's post above

.

As much as I wouldn't want to see it shut down (which it won't be), it's a pretty shit venue in all honesty.

And as with any story, there's always another side to the tale. Have a read here.............

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/News/Night-And-Day-The-Other-Side

martinw · January 2014

Trial and summary execution by internet...lol.

TheOtherDennis · January 2014

Hmm, not an easy one. The point about turning the volume up is a valid one if true, but the owners deny it and as several commenters below the story linked to by badlydrawnbanjo point out, why would the owners suddenly turn the volume up after all these years? What would be the point? If they already have an acceptable level and have spent money on soundproofing to the point where the complainant didn't have a problem until recently, why would they suddenly jeopardise all that for only one or two gigs a week?

Having said that, the reaction that "They're trying to get us closed down" is over the top. Yes, it's true that if a venue has to be too quiet, no one will play there and they'll slowly die, but if the previous levels were acceptable for over 20 years, and still appear to be acceptable for most bands most nights, why are they suddenly the kiss of death now?

Seems to me after reading that article that BOTH sides are at it, here.

TheOtherDennis · January 2014

Cirrus said:

TheOtherDennis;134989" said:
Exactly the same thing happened a couple of years ago in Birmingham. Unfortunately, I can't remember which pub it happened so I can't find out what the outcome was, but the situation was identical - selfish idiot moves to within hearing distance of a long-established and very popular live venue and instantly complains about the noise. Wtf? I mean, you did your research about the area, didn't you??

The Roadhouse perchance? Once thriving venue, now has a db meter and sound is generally ropey because a nun amplified snare hit is enough to make it go red - so they compensate by making everything else inaudible.

I think that's the one, yes.

ESBlonde · January 2014

I've not read all the above text and have no actual experience of this venue or even the Manchester gig scene. But we should remember that modern music takes advantage of modern technology that is able to reproduce frequencies much lower that before and also reproduce them at very high power levels which are more felt rather than heard. Computer/synth sounds and 5 or even 6 string basses coupled with efficient Sub bass in the PA makes a lot of difference to neighbours whilst apparently (according to SPL readings) being no louder in the actual venue.

I bet if they had a folk act on stage they could be 4 or 5 dB louder and get no complaints from neighbours.

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Petition against closure of Night & Day Manchester due to noise complaints

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