The Castle Inn Axminster

Yet another new business being strangled by red tape and pandering to a very small but vocal set of narrow minded individuals.

I have visited this pub when staying with my sister in Axminster. It was a music night lovely, not loud as I don't like loud music but hot with windows shut. I have worked and visted many pubs over the years and never heard so many restrictions on a business.

Why complain constantly about a pub - if you don't like what happens in a pub MOVE!! Don't spoil other people's lives by petty-mindedness. Surely COVID rules mean doors and windows should be open now - does this over-ride the ridiculous rules?

Good luck!

If you live next to a pub then you have top expect some of the things listed. I imagine that the pub was there a lot longer than the complainees.

As an ex licencee i believe that these restriction should be lifted. There were no restrictions BEFORE the property next door became retirement flats..perhaps a harassment order against the tennants of the property next door might wake them up enough to realize the pub was there BEFORE any of them moved in...

So what's the latest? Is it all over?

Well said Andy and bless you thank you so much for your kind words.xx

Good pub in the town centre. We live in a democracy not a dictatorship so why are the views of some bitter individuals who have nothing better to do than moan ruining a good local public house. Surely some of the blame for the situation has to be on EDDC because it was them who gave permission for the flats next door, which used to be the car park. I lived next door to the Castle for two years not once did we have any problems with the place or the people that drink there. It's time these people were told to shut up or pack up.what do they expect living in the town centre peace and quiet. The pub was there when they bought there houses. The bitter old hag who moans moans about everything not just the pub ask the couple that live in Castle mount next door to the pub.its a town centre young people need a place to go so do I or would they prefer we hang out in tesco car parks. Like I said we live in a democracy not a dictatorship.

Just to update the urgency of needing your support in signing this petition,I have been informed today by someone who was privileged to be at a town meeting that took place a week last Monday that a residents meeting took place at the town council where they presented a petition to have the Castle Inn pub licence reviewed we and the premises licence holder (Punch Taverns)are still awaiting to have conformation of the meeting and that the grant was given in favour for the residents to get the review.I personally find it hard to understand how they seem to be pulling all the strings without us or the brewery being informed of any such meeting!!! The grounds for the review were based on the strength that the behaviour of the customers who use the castle have been using bad language,shouting,yelling,banging on tables, we have been accused of not closing the courtyard by 9pm monday to saturday and sundays at 2pm that we have kept the garden well open beyound these times, also that police are always been called to the premises We took over as managers on 2nd May and we have never ever had any incidents what so ever. these licensing conditions were placed on the premises licence in 2005 and then another review in 2007 we are now in 2014 things have changed and its time the people who use and love the pub have there say we want to keep this pub open but we do need people to stand with us especially all of you who have not had a chance to have your say now is your chance so please sign and add your comment and we would be very happy to receive letters of support if you know the history of the pub and have photo's etc we would be happy to use them when we go to the review thank you to everyone who has shared and signed our petition up to now please please keep the awareness of this story by continuing to share and help us get the signatures

If you bought a property next to a fish mongers and complained about the smell people would laugh at you. Would you buy a nice little semi-detached next to a saw mill and complain about the constant sawing? Yet you knowingly buy a town property next to a business that sells alcohol until gone midnight, complain about a little noise and EDDC takes it seriously. The capacity some people have for idiocy never ceases to amaze me. The Castle Inn is an asset to this town. Well run, friendly atmosphere, a great place to go and socialise for people of all ages. People need somewhere to go, to relax and socialise, to get away from things; 'Where everybody knows your name'. "Recent research conducted by pub-data specialists CGA found that pubs that provide music take on average 44% more money than pubs without music rising to 60% more at the weekend." Don't make it impossible for this loved and respected Axminster business to make money.

I went down to this hall on Thursday night and was amazed that it is almost next door to where one of our complainants live much much closer to her property than the castle inn is and yes all windows and doors were open and the hall was packed and I could here every word that was spoke even when I continued to walk further on down the street and when I turned to walk on back to the pub I could believe my ears that the whole congregation was singing i would be interested to know if they have like us been bombarded with noise complaints wonder if the EDDC would answer that question !! please please keep the discussion going and as I said before letters of support and the history about the pub would be much appreciated

Living in South Street all my life, that's 43 years now! Putting up with town centre noise is just a way of life. Many years of a very loud & smelly cattle market on a Thursday, The noise of a Friday & Saturday nights around 2am as people are heading home from pubs & clubs,not from Castle Inn who have to close earlier at 1am. Music played loudly late at night (2,3 or 4am) by inconsiderate near by neighbours. My family have life & worked in Axminster for hundreds of years (1600's), My great Grandfather James Seager was manager at what is now The Castle Inn back in the 1920 & 30's, under R Southwood & son & Carr & Quick Ltd, then a wine & spirit merchants with a public bar. Also known at one time as The Vaults, This old & established town centre pub should not be judged on it's past few managers, but on the very good new management who are trying to pull the pub around, only to be hampered by a few fighting an old war long since finished.

Axminster has four pubs, three of which are in the town center surrounded by local residents. They are a valuable social resource and for some an important source of work through contacts that they meet. They all contribute to the local economy through their taxes. They all make significant charitable contributions. They are all trying to operate as profitable businesses and have to compete with each other, yet only The Castle has such restrictive and draconian rules attached to its licence. These are local businesses all in similar situations so there should be a level playing field, the same rules (or absence of them) should apply equally to all of them. Why does the council hamper just one, which has been there far longer than the local residents who selfishly seem to be trying to close it down by making it noncompetitive?

Why when we finaly get a brilliant hard working couple with visions of turning the castle inn around by giving the pub a face lift , nice seating inside , pavement seating, good food menu, making every effort to comply with the ever increasing list of demands set , are the demands of a few narrow minded people taken into consideration at the detriment of a long existing local inn , yes it may have had problems in the past ,but for christ sake give mel and dawn the opportunity to develop this long standing business(so much longer than the flats of the complainants) .so to all you whinging complaining neighbours , get a life and if you dont like it .P.... OFF The castle in was here before you and will be when you are gone. Signed a very happy customer. Good luck

This is a good pub, with a friendly bunch of customers and it's a real shame that management are being subjected to conditions which don't permit them to run the business the way a successful pub should be run. You wouldn't see someone moving into a flat in Soho or Exeter City Centre having some influence over the running of the business in that area which has been established for years. What bollocks! I lived above Goldini's for a time, when the noise got too much I left, I didn't try to get the pub shut down. You know what to expect when you live close to a pub or a club.

I was just gonna add I went down old north street to tonight after I left. Right by the cables(compliant HQ) and guess what I couldn't here a thing from the beer garden. However I did notice a very large bunch of johova witness singing in a massive building right next door. All the windows were open and the noise was huge. I wonder if they have complaints, I could also hear laughter but as we know thats banned in old north street.

Thank you very much Jamie, your comments will certainly give ours and the brewery some valuable insight as to the history of the pub which will help them build a picture of what has been going on over the years and yes seems that this is an old war which we and some previous managers have inherited however for the love of what we do running pubs and more so for the people that have used and supported this pub for many years and hopefully for the new generation yet to come Mal and I will do our best to to put this old war behind us all and we hope the residents will come to understand the importance this historical property and business means to you all and Axminster.