Strict conditions have been revealed for a restaurant that was the subject of repeated noise complaints and alleged lockdown breaches to stay open.

Vu Lounge, which opened at Bushey Country Club in October 2019, had its licence reviewed by a Hertsmere Borough Council licensing sub-committee on September 7 following 13 noise complaints since May 2021.

It was also claimed that officers had been blocked from inspecting the premises.

After a meeting on September 7, the council said the restaurant could remain open, subject to conditions.

The venue will need to install a noise limiter that controls all music played at the premises.

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Noise monitoring, which must be recorded in writing, is also required after 7pm and a phone line must be available for residents to complain, with all complaints recorded.

Further, speakers are banned from the shisha smoking area, which must also be adequately ventilated.

In their decision, the committee said: “The sub-committee heard from one resident who had clearly been affected on an ongoing basis by noise from the premises and this had been repeated in other representations.”

Other allegations included breaches of indoor smoking regulations, multiple claims of lockdown rules being broken in 2020, and council officers being blocked from inspecting the site.

In the application to review the licence, the council’s health officer said: “On more than one occasion officers have been prevented from accessing the premises when attending to inspect whilst the premises were trading.

“Officers believe this to be due to the premises and its management knowing that it was in breach of certain legislation and undermines the crime and disorder objective.”

A further condition was imposed stating that all staff must be trained to understand council officers are permitted to enter the property and cannot be obstructed in any way.

Separately there were reports of noise nuisance, drug dealing, fighting, and car related anti-social behaviour from the car park, however this area is the responsibility of the council rather than the restaurant.

The decision went on: “The conditions imposed were agreed by all parties at the hearing and the sub-committee considered that it did not need to take any further steps than the imposition of the conditions to promote the licensing objectives.

“The sub-committee was reassured by the premises licence holder that this matter was being taken seriously and acknowledged that no complaints of noise had been made recently.”

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