Residents living near Berwick Manor Hotel in Rainham, East London, have described a “massive impact” on their lives from noisy events, leading to the hotel's operators being called before Havering Council's licensing committee. The hotel, a 14-room countryside venue on Berwick Pond Road, has been the subject of complaints since 2021, with residents reporting swearing, abuse, screaming, and loud music.
Residents forced to leave home on weekends
One resident told the committee that he and his family leave home every weekend to escape the noise. “I don't want to walk out in my garden and hear rude words all the time,” he said. “I don't want to hear fireworks after 11pm. I don't want to hear things I don't even understand which have been translated to me that are awful.” Another resident said she “just couldn't cope” with the disturbances.
Council action and sound limiter issues
Havering Council installed a sound limiter at the venue in November 2021, but officers found it was not being used, and the required noise management plan was absent as of last August. The council is not seeking to revoke the hotel's licence but is asking the committee to ban regular entertainment in the garden area. The licensing hearing was adjourned to August 6 because the operator could not attend due to a business meeting, as requested by his legal representative.
Ongoing complaints since 2021
The council has been dealing with complaints about the hotel for several years. Berwick Manor Hotel was approached for comment but did not respond. The committee chair, Councillor Christine Vickery, set the new hearing date after the operator's representative cited a scheduling conflict.
