A landlady has defended her pub over complaints from a neighbour about smashed glass, noise disturbance and damage to his car.
A landlady has hit back at complaints from a neighbour about noise and damage linked to her pub, The Swan, in Three Mile Cross.
Charlotte Grant reopened the local pub in 2024 after years of closure, leading to a surge in business and improvements to the beer garden last summer.
However, Daniel Dursley, a nearby resident, has raised concerns about glass being thrown into his garden and loud music, claiming his car has been damaged twice by items discarded by patrons.
In response, Ms Grant stated, “This stems from a large grassed area that was always used by the pub. I had to spend hundreds getting rid of waste. The neighbours decided they will take umbrage to that. I got the land looking a lot nicer.” She added that she had hosted a band that finished at 6pm, ensuring drinks were served in plastic and that local children played football under supervision.
She lamented, “This is my livelihood; I put everything into this pub. I was born and raised in pubs, and one is closing every day; this has systematically broken me.” Ms Grant described her experience as “absolute hell” and said she feels like a “sitting duck” due to the complaints.
Mr Dursley has requested a review of The Swan's premises licence by Wokingham Borough Council, which could limit or revoke the pub's alcohol and live music privileges.
He stated, “Several people have reported that debris, including glass bottles, have been thrown from the pub garden into people’s gardens. The antisocial behaviour occurred because this area wasn’t regularly monitored, causing concern for residents.” He suggested restricting glass use outdoors to enhance safety for children in the area.
Despite his complaints, he acknowledged that improvements have been made at the pub this year compared to last.
A decision regarding the licence review is pending from councillors Pauline Jorgensen, Rebecca Margetts, and Beth Rowland.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
