AN ARTISAN micropub has been given the go-ahead to double the size of its beer garden, despite claims that desperate customers were using a wall as an outdoor toilet.
The operators of the Station Yard, Dunbar, applied for a licence to increase its outside space for customers, increasing its capacity from 80 to 120 customers.
However, a virtual meeting of East Lothian Council's licensing board was told that the extended beer garden, which is already operating under Covid relaxation rules, served a pub which had just one toilet.
Jacquie Bell, of Dunbar Community Council, told the meeting that residents living on a street at the back of the pub,had complained about noise, litter and anti-social behaviour.
She said that the pub, which is described as an artisan premises offering craft drinks, had been taken over by new management.
She said: “The pub was initially very small and very quiet, and residents had no issue.
“Since the changeover, there have been incidents of noise and, because there is only one toilet, there are incidents of people urinating against the wall at the back.”
There are plans to extend the beer garden at the Station Yard. Image: East Lothian Council licensing portal
Concerns were also raised about the pub using a neighbouring building which was formerly home to a surf club as a storage area, and extending onto land which was owned by Network Rail.
David McKinnon, from the pub, told the meeting that the additional building and land was being used under a lease agreement between the owners and the premises, which had been in place since late last year.
And he said he was unaware of issues with neighbours, pledging to work with them in the future.
The pub was granted an extension to its licence to cover the additional beer garden, which is in the process of applying for planning permission and extension of weekend opening hours from 11pm to 1am, and 11pm to midnight on Sundays.
Councillor Lachlan Bruce, licensing board member, urged pub bosses to work with neighbours.
Mr Bruce said: “The issues highlighted are important and I would ask the guys running the pub to take them on board and make sure communication is improved.
“With outdoor premises, it is about making sure they are managed properly.”
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