A high street Wetherspoons has been given the go-ahead to have late-night drinking in its beer garden - once soundproofing has been installed.

The company applied to Great Yarmouth Borough Council in March for permission to close the beer garden at the William Adams pub at 11pm instead of at 9pm, as it has been until now. 

But the bid was met with "strong opposition" from neighbours who raised concerns over noise pollution. 

In a letter objecting to the later licence, neighbours claimed the pub had "done nothing to curtail the noise" which they say comes from the beer garden.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The back of the William Adams pub on Gorleston High Street faces several homes. Picture - Google EarthThe back of the William Adams pub on Gorleston High Street faces several homes. Picture - Google Earth (Image: Google Earth)

At the council's licencing sub-committee meeting today (June 13), the application was approved on the condition the pub soundproofed the beer garden.

Before the verdict, Wetherspoon's head of legal, Nigel Connor, said the later licence would hopefully lead to a "gradual dispersal" of nighttime customers, which would reduce noise in the surrounding area.

Mr Connor said: “The garden area is very visible. We have got a view from the bar to monitor customer behaviour and staff are going in and out of the area regularly. 

"There is also signage reminding customers to keep the noise down.”

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The verdict came at the licencing sub-committee meeting at Great Yarmouth Town Hall. Picture - NewsquestThe verdict came at the licencing sub-committee meeting at Great Yarmouth Town Hall. Picture - Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

The William Adams' neighbour Vaughan Cutter objected to the licence as he said noise from the beer garden travelled over the wall and into neighbouring gardens.

Mr Cutter said he would drop the objection if the pub introduced concaved noise-reducing Perspex "like they do at football stadiums".

He added that after 9pm, the main source of noise in the area comes from food delivery drivers, and he was concerned later times at the pub’s beer garden would change that.

Mr Connor acknowledged the "valid concerns of our neighbours" before the committee made its decision.

The High Street pub - which has 22 tables in its outside area and around 70 inside the pub - opened its doors in 2018 following a £2.2m development.