Organisers, Brand Events TM Ltd, who are also behind BBC Radio 2 DJ, Chris Evans’ Carfest and Kirsty Allsopp’s Handmade Fairs, brought the “glorious three-day feast” to the city in June after its successful launch in Marlow last year – but it was not to everyone’s taste.

Residents of Royal Crescent and Marlborough Lane said it was noisy and disruptive, and it was blamed for the first incident of public vomiting in Circus Mews in thirty years.

Brand Events TM Ltd Operations Director, Neil Levene, said: “We’ve been in operation for nearly twenty years. We run live events in the UK and around the world. We pride ourselves on putting on events of the very highest standards.

“Pub in the Park was in its second year this year. It was launched in Marlow, where chef, Tom Kerridge, comes from. It’s a unique event. It’s not just music and not just food. We’re creating a pub in the park.”

Some 14,000 people attended the event, a lot of them local. In a written submission, the Cavendish Road Society said residents had no respite from the noise for the whole event. The Royal Crescent Society Residents’ Association said there did not appear to be anyone managing the crowds as they left and they were “very noisy”.

Mr Levene said there was a security team of more than twenty monitoring the numbers of people coming and going. No issues were reported, so he said he was surprised at some of the objections, but confirmed that the police and environmental health teams had raised no concerns. He said the location in the park had been agreed by the council’s events team.

Noise consultant, Peter Nash, said the sound levels from the music were well within national guidelines and at a similar volume to normal conversation. He monitored noise levels throughout the event, and had the final say if they were getting too high, but said they did not.

Marlborough Lane and Buildings Residents’ Association Chairman, Stephen Huard, said: “There were fifteen complaints about Pub in the Park last year.

“The organisers suggested there weren’t really any problems last year, but there were an unprecedented number of complaints. Perhaps someone isn’t recording the true number of complaints. One particular complaint was about the exit arrangements. A resident said in his thirty years living in Circus Mews, never had there been people vomiting in the street.”

Challenged by Cllr Anthony Clarke, Mr Huard conceded that he could not prove definitively that the vomiting incident was linked to Pub in the Park.

Mr Huard claimed it was “irresponsible” to run an event until 10 p.m. on a Sunday evening during term time, when children are preparing for exams and adults are getting ready for work. He argued that the event should move to a more appropriate location.

Kingsmead ward member, Cllr Andrew Furse, said his constituents are suffering the cumulative effect of events in the park, including the circus and the fun fair – but they may not object every time, due to “complaint fatigue”. He said the cabinet was pushing for more and more events to be held, and argued the “pain should be spread across the city”.

Cllr Furse also spoke in defence of families – many nearby in listed buildings with only single glazing – wanting to make the most of their Sunday evening, and said the event should finish at 6 p.m.

The committee was reminded that their duty under the licensing act to protect children from harm only applied to those youngsters attending licensed premises, although noise could constitute a public nuisance.

Members were also told to consider the application on its own merits. They resolved to approve it, but encouraged greater communication. Next year’s Pub in the Park will be open from 5 p.m. to 10.45 p.m. on Friday, from 11 a.m. to 10.45 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Alcohol will be sold on site, but no one will be able to leave with an open bottle. The event will return to Bath’s Royal Victoria Park on 21st to 23rd June.

Stephen Sumner