AN Alton bar has been ordered to make a number of changes following years of noise complaints from neighbours.

East Hampshire District Council’s licensing sub-committee reviewed Cellar Vie’s premises licence recently with the aim of reducing "public nuisance".

As a result, the Market Square bar now has to comply with a raft of conditions, including the installation of a noise limiter, acoustic mountings for speakers, self-closing doors which must remain closed, along with windows, while music is playing and hourly external patrols around the premises to "prevent disturbance" during "any musical entertainment".

The noise concerns were said to be compounded by people milling around after closing time. This had been a particular problem in the summer months.

"Cellar Vie shall have an arrangement in place with a local cab firm to ensure staff can call for a cab for any customer wanting one," the council ruled.

Notices must be displayed asking people to leave the area quietly and "not to loiter outside the bar". A member of staff must be on duty at the doors from closing time until all customers have left the premises on Friday and Saturday evenings. Their job will be to usher people away and keep the peace.

The wine bar was also ordered to ensure that no alcohol is consumed outside after midnight - meaning smokers will have to leave their drinks inside.

The council said the management of Cellar Vie, The Wheatsheaf and The Market Hotel should "work together via Pub Watch or separately in an effort to control unruly/noisy customers in the Market Square once the venues have closed".

The review was called after the environmental protection team at the council received more than a decade’s worth of noise complaints.

Alton Town Council said it "fully" supported the review given the "number of concerns raised by local residents".

Graham Hopkins, from GT Licensing Consultants, represented the bar at the review. He told councillors they were sorry the breakout of noise had caused disturbance to local residents and extended their apologies.

He explained a telephone number would also be issued for local residents to phone if they were disturbed.

But Mr Hopkins said any conditions had to be proportionate, arguing that it was not only the customers from Cellar Vie who were making the noise, but other pubs too. The Wheatsheaf has received noise complaints and was recently visited by environmental protection representatives who issued advice.