A POPULAR village pub has struck a sour note with residents over outdoor music.
People in Cawthorne are also complaining about parking problems around the Spencer Arms and there are fears about the behaviour of some customers after a fight broke out.
A parish councillor says the tone of the pub has ‘gone to zilch’.
But majority owner Chris Harrison refutes this and says the pub only wants to be a good neighbour.
He also claims the pub barely makes a profit and that music sessions have given it a new lease of life.
“I hate to think what might happen if we stopped them,” he said.
Two villagers went to last week’s parish council meeting to complain about the pub.
One said: “Customers are parking outside our homes but we aren’t allowed to use the pub car park.
“Also there is loud music, especially on Sunday and it’s hard when you have to be up for work and if you have kids.
“Fights have broken out and this is just not acceptable.”
The other resident said: “Fighting is not what a village like this is all about.”
They asked the council for support and help to clarify the situation.
Chairman Cynthia Hindley said: “The car park belongs to the Spencer Arms. We can’t do anything about that or where customers park.”
She advised the men to take up the matter with Barnsley Council.
Clerk Maxine Bashforth said she had had other complaints about noise and had written to the pub. In a reply, Mr Harrison said everything possible was done to minimise noise and disturbance.
But Coun Margaret Broadhead said:“The tone of the Spencer Arms has gone to zilch.
“The pub is attracting the wrong kind of people. It used to be a lovely little country pub.”
Mr Harrison told the Chronicle: “We have had music inside on Friday and Sunday for some time and in the recent warm weather we have taken it outside.
“This is an Enterprise Inn for which we pay a very high rent and it’s hard even in a lovely village like this to make the figures add up.
“Doing Sunday afternoon music has given us a new lease of life, but even then we are barely making a profit.”
He said his family has lived in Cawthorne since the 1930s and that he is sympathetic to the village.
“But it does need a pub and we see ourselves as a hub,” he said.
On the question of ‘tone’ Mr Harrison said: “I refute the suggestion that the tone is lowering. Success breeds success. People don’t want to come to places where there is nothing happening.
“We have had one incident where there was trouble and I sincerely hope nothing like that ever happens again.”
He said he was unaware of parking issues.
“We plan to have music outdoors while good weather lasts,” he said. “It is only from 5pm to 8pm one day a week. It is not offensive or constant. Not head-banging stuff. Most people find it pleasant.
“I am disappointed if we are causing upset. We want to be good neighbours, but want the pub to have a future and don’t want to be denied the chance to get the figures to achieve this.
“I am mindful of our neighbours and don’t want to fall foul of anyone.”
The clerk said she has also written to Cawthorne Club after complaints about noise.
