Camden officials slam plans to relax live music laws

Noise complaints from residents could soar by 100 per cent if plans to loosen laws on playing live music are passed, Camden Council officials have warned.

The government believes lifting restrictions on live music in pubs and clubs could save money on unnecessary bureaucracy.

But the council claims unfettered performances could lead to a rise in complaints from neighbours and ballooning costs.

The government’s Live Music Bill would allow Camden’s 1,150 licensed premises to play music between 8am and 11pm without a license, provided the audience is fewer than 200 people.

Officials branded the plans “ill-conceived” and said they would have a “damaging effect” on communities in the borough at a licensing meeting on Tuesday (February 7).

But Cllr Jonathan Simpson welcomed proposals to scrap the “two men in a bar” rule for live music, which says that no more two musicians can perform at once.

“This is going back to the small venues,” he said. “This is about someone playing the piano or singing in a restaurant. I just think at the moment it’s really, really restricting for people to do that.”

The bill could be passed before the Queen’s Jubilee and Olympic Games in the summer.