D&D London's 100 Wardour retains live music rights as council protects 'special nature' of West End

D&D London has retained the right to host live bands and DJ sets at Soho venue 100 Wardour Street after residents launched a licence review complaining of noise nuisance.

Westminster City Council accepted the measures taken by the company to address long-running complaints from those living in the connected Soho Lofts building, while also commenting on the need to protect the "special nature" of the West End.

A representative for the residents told a licensing sub-committee meeting yesterday that it was “vital” the complainants could have “full confidence going forward that measures would achieve inaudibility” after experiencing disturbances since the mid- to late-1990s.

The remedial action taken by the D&D London had included facilitating multiple tests by both Environmental Health teams and an independent expert hired by the company who installed a “gold standard”, two stage sound limiting system. It has also banned acoustic drums from being used at the venue and set volume limits for performers.

An Environmental Health spokesperson had explained that it had taken several test visits to isolate the limits that needed for different frequencies of noise, for example from live acoustic bands in comparison to DJ sets with more bass.

A representative for D&D London told the hearing that more than £110,000 had been spent to address the residents’ complaints adding that no further reports of noise disturbances in the apartments had been made since work was completed on 23 October 2019.

He added that the company had “absolute confidence” in the new system.

Following the hearing a Westminster City Council spokesperson said: “We always try to strike a balance between the needs of residents and those of entertainment venues, especially in areas such as the West End. Our licensing committee looked closely at evidence presented by residents, 100 Wardour Street and our environmental health team, before deciding that the venue could continue to host DJs and live bands, subject to several stringent new licence conditions.

“These include the venue using a noise limiter set to an agreed level, the restriction of acoustic drums and bands only being able to use the in-house sound system. We will continue to monitor the venue to make sure it sticks to these rules, but residents are encouraged to contact us if they feel the venue is breaching any conditions set.”