Noisy pensioners lose drinks licence

A bowling club whose members are mainly pensioners has been stripped of its drink and music licence after residents complained of rowdy parties.

The Temple Bowling Club in Denmark Hill, Camberwell, had tried to curb the noise by putting up notices asking members to leave the area quietly but reports of loud music continued and Lambeth council stepped in.

One neighbour said: "On some nights the noise coming out of the bowling club was unbelievable. You would think you were living opposite a nightclub with the amount of shouting going on and the volume of the music.

"People around here eventually got sick and tired of it it's a shame really as pensioners need a place to go and socialise and this club would be perfect if it just wasn't so noisy."

Club bar manager Jean Gilchrist said: "We have tried everything to stop the noise. It's all so petty."

The club has said it would appeal against the council's decision.

One of the members, Peter Ansell, 70, said: "It's a social club as well as a bowling club. People meet there for a drink, not always for bowling.

"If we can't get the music licence then we can't afford to keep the club going."

A Lambeth council spokesman said a "lack of understanding" between club bosses and neighbours about noise levels had led to the licence being ended.