BBC culinary sensation Glynn Purnell, already in the spotlight over his Michelin-starred restaurant closure apology, is now facing community uproar. This time, the outcry is over the prospect of "loud outdoor gigs" at the upscale pub The Mount, which he oversees, situated in Henley-in-Arden, Warks.

Locals have voiced their distress, with concerns that the quaint "peaceful town" is being disrupted by rowdy drinkers frequenting the establishment. Anxiety mounts as residents speculate the High Street could devolve into a haven for disorderly behaviour if the venue secures consent to amplify its outdoor music events from three to 15 times a year.

Billionaire comrade and The Mount's proprietor, Luke Fryer, aged 52, along with his spouse Tania, aged 51, inaugurated the drinking hole back in 2022, entrusting Purnell with the culinary reins. With a menu featuring prices such as £25 for haddock and chips, and £40 for an 8oz fillet steak, the gastro pub is now intent on expanding its alfresco entertainment roster, primed for the warmer seasons. There's a scheduled Easter Monday barbecue where patrons will be asked to fork out £15 for spit roast lamb flat bread, or part with £8 for barbecued courgettes.

Inhabitants nearby are incensed by the noise pollution, including what they describe as "bellowing parents" and boisterous beer aficionados. In a statement to the council, the frustrated neighbours emphasised their understanding of The Mount's business aspirations but cautioned, "We all appreciate that The Mount are trying to achieve a viable business, and we would point out that we are not unreasonable."

Locals already tolerate significant disruptions from the pub's garden when it's crowded. The disturbances include heated arguments, loud phone conversations by the boundary, and parents yelling at children who wander too close to the river. The letter further alleges that some patrons have verbally harassed residents whose gardens adjoin the pub. Enumerating their grievances, the letter mentions incidents of "people having a go at us because we have the audacity to have a barbecue with friends in the privacy of our own garden and objecting to the smells from our barbecue."

Neighbours Brian and Sue Westmacott, who live adjacent to The Mount, have voiced their concern over the escalating noise levels emanating from the pub. Brian, aged 69, explained: "The existing licence permits three external or amplified events in the rear garden per annum. The application seeks to increase this to 15. That represents a five-fold (400 per cent) increase in one step.

"This is a significant and unreasonable increase. Even if the applicant spread the events throughout the spring and summer, it would still amount to at least one event per fortnight, based on a simple average of 15 events across 26 weeks / weekends."

Similarly, Holly Wingfield, a 50 year old resident and business owner, who rents out a flat above her shop, expressed her apprehension about the potential increase in noise disturbances. A shop owner has raised concerns about a pub's noise level, asserting: "I strongly object to The Mount's application to inflict even more noise on my tenant who dwells in the flat above my shop."

She recounted her tenant's grievances: "My tenant has complained to me about the music activities occurring regularly in the front of the pub. The noise complaints extended to late-night disturbances as well: "She has also complained about the noise their guests make when vacating the premises late at night."

Acknowledging a difference in sensitivity to noise, she noted that a previous tenant was unaffected but highlighted the reason: "she was an old lady who was extremely deaf." On potential property impacts, she expressed worry: "My worry is that the proposed increase of audible events will render the flat unlettable."

Another resident expressed their exasperation at the situation: "It's bad enough in the summer with endless noise and swearing coming from the pub garden, now they want to hold even more boozy music events." They critiqued the lack of consideration from the pub owners: "Everyone needs to make a living but the people who own and run this pub have no consideration for the people living nearby."

Voicing concerns over town culture, they added: "Our once lovely town is being taken over by drunk louts. I dread it when the sun's out because you know you'll never get any peace."

Nonetheless, not everyone opposes the proposal, with some local support evident. Sam Taylor, based across from the pub, shared a positive view: "I am in and out of the office at all times, including when live music has been on, and have never heard music coming from the premises in question."

He praised the establishment's contribution to the town saying: "Since The Mount took over I feel that they have certainly impacted Henley in a positive way, and they seem to operate the business in a very professional manner. Local sentiment is divided over a pub's plan to host more outdoor events, with one opinion-holder asserting that the establishment should "have the freedom" to do so, while another called on authorities to "support these venues."

Pub landlord Luke Fryer argued in favour of the move: "We employ about 30 people in the pub, many of them live nearby so without the pub those jobs would not be there." He also sought to reassure locals: "We want to make a viable business while working with residents living nearby. I'm not up in arms or divided with anyone about this."

The debate heats up following an unrelated incident where chef Purnell apologised after his Michelin-starred eatery in Birmingham shut down suddenly, leaving patrons shocked. In the upcoming council meeting at Stratford District Council's licensing panel, members will deliberate on Tuesday (22/4) regarding the potentiating increase of outdoor festivities at the venue.