Last Pub Standing in Norwich alcohol licence approved

The Last Pub Standing on King Street has been granted permission to sell alcohol again by Norwich City Council. 

But new measures will have to be introduced to limit noise in the garden at the rear of the property, to address complaints from neighbours. 

The licence was lost when a company set up the owner Simon Peters with a business colleague, went into administration. 

Due to a split between the pair, a new company was to be formed by Mr Peters and the licence transferred.  

An administrative mistake meant this did not happen in time, leaving the venue mistakenly operating without a licence for some time. 

When Mr Peters was notified by Norwich City Council officers, he submitted a new application.   

The pub has been able to continue operating intermittently using temporary events notices - short-term licences which can only be applied for a set number of times each year. 

In total, there have been seven noise complaints lodged against the bar since it opened in 2019. 

Many of these were in 2021, but neighbours began to raise concerns again around August 2023. 

At a licensing committee meeting on Wednesday, a solicitor representing Mr Peters called for councillor to support the venue reopening.  

He told the committee that he did not think the pub would be able to survive if it was not allowed to play music, calling it “essential”.  

The solicitors also said that one of the complaints in November was lodged on a day the premises had not been open.

The committee unanimously approved the licence. 

Director of Last Pub Standing, Simon Peters (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Peters said: “We are tremendously happy with the decision today.  

“Now we are looking to work with the local authority to make sure there are no noise complaints going forward.” 

The venue is expected to reopen on Friday, January 12, but music will not be held outside until mitigation measures have been installed.