Aberdeen’s Dutch Mill will now play music in its marquee after a year-long wrangle was finally settled by councillors.
The Queens Road hotel erected the huge outdoor area amid coronavirus restrictions on indoor socialising in 2020.
But it has proven to have lasting popularity.
Now, bosses have finally been given permission to play “low level background music” and “sporting commentary” in the marquee.
Massive report convinces councillors about Dutch Mill marquee music
It comes after months of negotiations with the local authority, who today insisted the change would not inspire a “flood” of copycat applications at other Aberdeen beer gardens.
When the venue recently applied for permission to keep the marquee, one neighbour raised concerns about the prospect of “noise and inconvenience”, warning the “next thing will be music and dancing held in this marquee”.
But The Dutch Mill has, over the past year, carried out a string of noise studies to justify the change.
Solicitor Anthony Dawson presented members of the licensing committee with a 26-page report on the matter.
Could other pubs seek similar changes?
SNP councillor Hazel Cameron asked police about their fears that granting the Dutch Mill application could spark a “flood” of similar moves.
An officer in attendance confirmed that it “may set a precedent”.
But council licensing chiefs stressed that each application would be judged on its own merits.
Members of the board then unanimously passed the plans.
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Music will only be played between the marquee’s opening time of noon and 10pm closing time.
Any neighbours who have complaints were encouraged to contact the council.
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