AN OXFORD hotel was granted a public entertainments licence as long as it put double glazing on all the windows so that people living nearby are not affected by loud music.

University College and Merton College, which both have student accommodation nearby, the Oxford University surveyor and one house in Merton Street objected to the application by The Eastgate Hotel, in High Street, which was granted but with reduced hours.

The hotel wanted to be able to put on entertainment such as live music and discos between noon and 2am from Monday to Saturday and until midnight on Sunday.

But the hotel can only have the licence for 7pm to 11pm Monday to Thursday, 7pm to 1am on Friday, noon to 1am on Saturday and noon till 10.30pm on Sunday. It has promised to refurbish the building, double-glaze all the windows and install sound insulation as hotel residents were directly above the restaurant.

Oxford University, which has its Examination Schools nearby, was worried about disruption to teaching and exams as there had been excessive noise during Christmas functions, but did not mind the licence being granted for after 7pm each day.

Residents of a house in Merton Street said that it would be intolerable for people trying to sleep if the hotel was open for entertainment until 2am as the space between the examination school and the back of the houses acted like an echo chamber.

Elizabeth Crawford, the domestic bursar of University College, said in a letter to the city council: "Occasional live music entertainment late into the night would be inevitable but the possibility of such activity every night would be unacceptable.

"Our residents are Fellows of the college and their families, graduate research students and undergraduates. The Fellows and graduates occupy their accommodation throughout the year and not just in the university term."

Merton College said that their students were not allowed to entertain in their rooms after 11pm, and to have hotel entertainment in the hotel until 2am would change the nature of the residential area.

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