A PARTY and wedding venue in Buriton could lose its licence after night-time surveillance by council officers, and a spate of complaints.

After a report about events at the Manor Barn, Manor House in North Lane, East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) is to decide if the premises licence for the venue, held by Robert Camping, should be reviewed.

The request has been made by the council’s’ principle environmental health officer David Fitzgerald, and one outcome, advises the case report, could see Mr Camping’s licence revoked.

Other outcomes include his licence being modified, or suspended for three months. The review application follows accusations of loud music and drunkenness near the village pond, among other complaints from Buriton residents.

In the report to the council’s licensing sub committee, one resident is quoted as saying: “I have seen drunken revellers from the Manor Barn behaving in an anti-social manner around the village pond, causing fear and alarm, including to children.”

Another resident told the council: “Children were very distressed being unable to sleep at 10pm due to the excessive noise.” There were also complaints about revellers from the Manor Barn walking back along Buriton High Street to their accommodation in the Village Inn, formerly the Maple Inn.

One incident included in the report is an exchange between licensing officer Gill Stevens and Mr Camping about an event on November 14, and her subsequent visit to the village on the night of the party.

Their correspondence includes a decision by Mr Camping to refund ticket money for the black tie party, and make it free entry, with free food and drink.

In an e-mail to Mrs Stevens he protested: “We are not trying to organise a rave. At 11.30pm I do not want to move everyone to the pub, or inside my house, or any other building at my house.”

Her report says council officers arrived in the village at about 11pm, and could hear music from the party at different locations throughout the village.

It continues: “At 12.05am we stood by the tree where the village notices are posted. The music was extremely loud, and clearly audible.”

The licensing sub committee meeting in the Council Chamber at Penns Place, Petersfield, on Monday, January 4, starts at 10am.

The paperwork relating to this meeting can be viewed on the council’s website at: www.easthants.gov.uk