The Spotted Dog in Alcester St has been served with a Noise Abatement Order after sneakily and totally unexpextedly holding parties in its garden for the last twenty-two years - which all came as a total suprise to a handful of new residents of the Abacus Development opposite. It's OK though - because with three complainants it means there's three times the number required to stop this wholly unreasonable practice.

The serving of a Noise Abatement Order on the Spotted Dog Pub in Alcester Street has, after many years of unproblematic enjoyment, led to the ceasing of playing live and recorded music at the venue, most notably in the outdoor area. Many parties and events have had to be cancelled due to the Order, leaving one of Birmingham's finest venues in fear for its future.

The major concern to many in Digbeth is that this is the start of a continued war of attrition against the many local pubs and clubs - forcing them to give up what makes them unique and that which allows them to attract people from not only Digbeth but Birmingham and the region as a whole, not to mention abroad! There is a real possibility that the Spotted Dog will be lost. Others will be sure to follow, much to the detriment of the area. Let's not allow Digbeth to become a ghost-town - or even worse a sterile 'dormer village' toytown envisioned by bottom-line obsessed developers and whos only entertainment venues are cookie-cut from the standard template ravishing our cities and towns.

The debate has been going on for a while now - see what has been discussed at the following:

the stirrer

skyscraper city

created in birmingham

birmingham mail

and of course not forgetting our own forums. The debate has even made it national - John Tighe, landlord of the Spotted Dog, and others were featured on BBC Radio 4's 'You and Yours' Programme.