Queen Square events licence granted despite fears

Proud Events have a four-year licence to hold events in Queen Square as part of the Bristol Harbour Festival

A licence to host events in a major city centre square has been approved, despite concerns about noise.

Proud Events, the organisers behind the Bristol Harbour Festival, were granted a four-year contract to run additional activities in Queen Square as part of the annual summer event.

The company already has a licence for alcohol sales, live music and dance at Lloyds Amphitheatre, College Green and the Thekla car park, but applied to the council for permission to run events for two extra days.

Queen Square resident Janet Wilson said she is "massively concerned" about the plans.

The Harbour Festival is the biggest event in the city, attracting tens of thousands of people every year.

BLOCO B, Laid Blak and Gabriel Templar have been announced in the line-up for this year's festival, taking place between Friday 19 and Sunday 21 July.

The Lloyds Amphitheatre will host the main stage.

'My house shook'

Speaking at a city council licensing sub-committee hearing on Thursday, Ms Wilson said extending the licence for the Harbour Festival could lead to a "massive gig for 10,000 people by the back door".

“Having five consecutive days, 11 hours a day, in Queen Square in perpetuity is very different from the Harbour Festival we are used to, which is family friendly, two days and from 11am to 6pm which is when children go to bed."

She added that her house has "shaken from loud music" in the past, and the DJ did not turn it down, despite being asked.

Harry Feigen, from Proud Events, acknowledged her concerns, and said the company plans to create a "family-friendly space".

He added that the conditions of the licence have been agreed with police and noise pollution and safety advisory groups.

Although the festival only runs for three days, the company applied for a five-day licence to give them "flexibility", in case the event extended, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

“This is all council land and the event is co-funded by the council.

"It’s not a private event, so if they don’t like what we are doing, it’s very easy for them to stop funding it," Mr Feigen said.