Kitty O'Shea's granted licence change despite complaints over 'deafening' noise

A popular Irish pub in Glasgow city centre has been granted changes to its alcohol licence after an objector claimed music from the venue is “deafening” and some next-door offices “can’t be used.”

Kitty O’Shea’s, which won an award for the best Irish bar in Scotland last year, faced two objections as it applied for a variation to its premises licences.

There were concerns about the impact of noise on office workers in a neighbouring Waterloo Street property.

Objector Frank McCormick told the city’s licensing board: “When the music is playing, it is deafening in 19 Waterloo Street as some of the offices can’t be used.”

The licensing board heard the music starts at 7pm from Monday to Thursday and 4pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the multi-floor venue.

A representative acting on behalf of applicant CLGM LIC said the bar’s manager can identify zones of the venue where the music needs to be kept lower.

He told the licensing board that music levels could be adjusted zone by zone.

Addressing the board, he said Kitty O Shea’s is an “authentic Irish bar,” showing “Gaelic sports” and celebrating events in the calendar, including St Patrick’s Day.

The representative said the variation of the premises licence being requested is “modest” and includes a change to 11am opening on Sundays.

The meeting heard there had been no formal complaints dealt with by Glasgow’s licensing standards officer in relation to the bar.

Police confirmed it had attended six incidents, but they were not related to music.

The board granted the variation of the premises licence.