The Dublin Metropolitan District Court granted Wondervale Limited a public music and singing licence for The Lamplighter, subject to conditions including an 85-decibel limit on sound emissions from entertainment and use of a sound limiter.
In a decision dated 23 March 2023, Judge Marie Quirke allowed entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays from 8.30pm to 12.30am, and Sundays from 8.30pm to 11pm, extending to 12.30am on a bank holiday weekend. The court required the venue to use a tamperproof limiter, keep a record of its annual servicing, direct speakers away from the adjoining Bruggener property and observe the licensed hours. It also ordered specified rubber mats and speaker mounts, with fire compliance to be verified by the Fire Officer. Wondervale must pay for a sound systems specialist to verify compliance in writing within a timeframe to be agreed by the parties.
Alexander and Andreas Bruggener, who own the adjoining property at 2 Brabazon Street, objected to the application. They argued that the applicant was effectively linked to the previous operator and relied on alleged breaches of noise agreements. The judgment records that agreements between the Bruggeners and Weavers Taverns Limited included limits on amplified sound and provisions for a sound limiter and equaliser.
The court heard evidence over five days, including from the parties, Garda Inspector Ian Lambe and noise consultants engaged by each side. Gardaí did not object to the licence. The judge found that the relationship between the parties was difficult and acrimonious, with both sides having played a part. She also found that the uncertainty over whether a bedroom vent had been blocked meant the room’s ambient noise level could not be established reliably. She made no finding on how much music noise exceeded that ambient level.
The judge said the evidence did not establish, on the balance of probabilities, that Wondervale’s character and conduct made it unfit to hold the licence, or that refusing it would be proportionate. She therefore granted the licence with conditions, rather than refusing it. Both sides were ordered to bear their own costs.