As someone whose life is significantly affected by the pub, living close by, I'd like the opportunity to share my experience.

The regulars spoke about the pub as being a "community". This seems to be true. There is a community within the pub, but this is a somewhat selfish community whose impact on the resident community in which it is situated is significant and mostly negative.

The noise created by the pub is far reaching, particularly, but not exclusively, in the summer when the clientele spills out into the garden and on to the street at the front of the pub. The houses and flats which surround the pub are affected by the noise - music, sometimes football chanting and general raucousness all of which increases as alcohol kicks in. The landlady's description of the pub as a "boozer" is spot on.

Most weekends, you can experience the sort of alcohol fuelled behaviour upon which Britain's reputation for anti social drinking is based.
Over the past year, Environmental Health have been monitoring the volume of noise and disruption.

The Bowling Green may well be the "oldest pub in Leamington". In its heyday, I'm sure the local community made good use of its facilities, but society moves on and tastes change. The function it once had is no longer needed. Witness the fall in takings.

This is not just down to the smoking ban. Pubs like the Bowling Green meet the needs of a very small number of people - it is not a pleasant place to wander in to. The behaviour of the regulars, uncontrolled by the management, is what drives customers away towards a more civilised atmosphere.

As I write, there is a noisy,aggressive argument going on in the garden. People are shouting at the tops of their voices. This on a peaceful summer early evening. Those of us living within hearing distance have our lives affected by this regularly. - Name and address supplied.