Fatboy Slim supports Shoreham music venue amid closure fears

The Duke of Wellington pub in Brighton Road, Shoreham, fears noise complaints from the new development at the former Adur Civic site could lead to its closure.

The DJ, real name Norman Cook, said he supported “live and loud music at The Welly until the bitter end”.

Hyde Housing, a housing association which provides affordable homes in the South East, is building a 159-home seven storey block of flats which include social housing.

Inside the Duke of Wellington

Several venues across the country have been at threat of closure, including The Prince Albert underneath Brighton Station. Residents fear for its future if a planning application for nine shops and two holiday lets are approved.

Adur District Council said the development will “not affect the nearby pub’s wish to play live music”.

Jess Green, 60, has co-owned the pub with Rob Jones, 66, for the last ten years.

She said: “As a pre-existing venue, a deed of easement of noise gives us the right to put our soundwaves across their land. It’s a bit like a right of way so if there was a footpath running through the site prior to them building.

The pub is a popular gig venue

“We’re a grassroots music venue, we have music at least four times a week. We’ve owned the pub since 2013 but this pub has always been the home of live music in Shoreham, way back in the 70s and 80s.

“We had people like Ian Hunter [Mott the Hoople] and Fatboy Slim play in the past.

“We put in a pre-action letter for a judicial review. We have had to put a lot of pressure along the way.

“We’re waiting to hear that in writing, we have seen press releases and Facebook posts. As a legal process, you would expect to hear something from their legal team.”

Fatboy Slim gives his support for The Welly (Image: Duke of Wellington)

There is an agreement by Hyde not to bring or support a noise nuisance claim against the pub, providing it operates within its existing licence conditions.

The pub owners have concerns about whether the agreement will actually protect them from playing their live music.

The plans state that the block adjacent to the pub would have additional sound-proofing to help keep the noise out.

Illustration of the Hyde Housing development viewed from the East of the pub

Hyde’s development will also be further away from the pub than before due to a change in the design following the community’s outcry over felling of a Poplar tree.

READ MORE: Brighton music fans fight flat plans opposite Hope and Ruin

Councillor Steve Neocleous, Adur's cabinet member for regeneration and strategic planning, said: “If a deed of easement for noise is the final piece in the jigsaw that will give the Duke of Wellington the comfort needed, and allows the affordable housing to proceed, then we will do all we can to agree an approach that removes this threat of Judicial Review.

“We have suggested a further meeting with the pub owners next week to discuss this and to try to agree an approach.”

Hyde Housing were approached for comment.