Officials could launch a review of the licence of a prominent pub on the Norfolk Broads following a series of complaints over raves at the controversial venue. 

The Beauchamp Arms, which sits on the banks of the River Yare, could have its alcohol licence revoked after a series of objections were made to police and South Norfolk Council (SNC). 

One noise complaint came from a boat moored at Coldham Hall, some 2.5 miles away. Others were over a wide area of the Yare valley, from Rockland St Mary to Hassingham.

The revelation that the pub was facing a review was made at an SNC licensing committee meeting on Tuesday.

The meeting was being held to discuss a request for a temporary licence to host a late-night rave at the pub in February 2024.

A council official said a review was something they were “almost definitely considering” but was unable to elaborate further.  

Plans for the late-night licence - called a temporary event notice - were rejected by the committee. 

While the pub is owned by Raymond Hollocks, the application for the temporary licence was submitted by Callum Richardson, the host of the event.  Beccles & Bungay Journal: Raymond Hollocks outside The Beauchamp Arms (Image: Bruno Brown)Raymond Hollocks outside The Beauchamp Arms (Image: Bruno Brown) (Image: Bruno Brown)

A previous party in July attracted some 400 revellers and 32 DJs.

Ali Pridmore, an environmental protection officer at SNC, had gone along to monitor the event, accompanied by police officers, because previous ones had attracted complaints.

Mr Pridmore told the meeting that he had found Mr Hollocks had been “dismissive” and “challenging”.

Mr Hollocks, who was not at the committee meeting, had in turn accused the official of being "rude and aggressive" and had made a complaint against him.

Mr Pridmore said body-worn camera footage, reviewed by the police, showed that was not the case. 

The committee heard the pub sits in a low-lying flat area and various conditions, such as wind direction could lead sound to carry a considerable distance. 

 

 

BARNEYS AT THE BEAUCHAMP

Mr Hollocks has been involved in a number of disputes with the local council, as well as the Broads Authority, over the Beauchamp Arms, and his other Broads sites, at Berney Arms and Loddon Marina.

He and his son William Hollocks are being prosecuted by the Broads Authority (BA) over a long-running saga involving caravans on the site of the Beauchamps Arms.

Both have denied a charge of failing to comply with enforcement notices served by the authority at Norwich Magistrates' Court.

The notices relate to the storing of two static caravans on the land and the use of them for residential purposes.

The case is set to return to court in the future.