Sauté Grill & Meze Restaurant is at the centre of tomorrow morning’s licencing sub-committee meeting due to recent problems.
The Adelaide Street premises is currently licenced and operates as a lounge bar with music and food, but it has been hit with several complaints since May 2025.
According to a report by the council’s general enforcement officer Richard Springhall, Environmental Compliance has received representations from four different addresses.
Complaints were about loud amplified music heard undistorted within a complaints premises and bass travelling through walls from another complainant.
Others referred to loud customers, drinking on the pavement and while leaving the premises.
Sauté Grill & Meze in Adelaide Street, St Albans. (Image: Google Street View)
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In a statement, St Albans City and District Council’s Environmental Health manager, Daniel Pattenden, commented: “We have yet to receive any information or steps from the premises, detailing any mitigation they intend to put in place.
“We have engaged with the premises, it does feel that they haven’t taken this situation as seriously.
“We have explained that they have a duty to promote the licensing objectives, that they have to balance the needs of a business with the needs of the residents.”
In email correspondence between the Environmental heath manager and Sauté, a representative of the restaurant said they will “duly reply” to any queries put forward.
Noise monitoring equipment was installed for a week from October 11, until October, 18, 2025. The dB level recorded averaged between 46dB and 58dB when amplification from the licensed premises was clearly audible. The timings of those recordings were between 8pm and 10:30pm.
On October 29 following the assessment of the recordings, an Abatement Notice, under the Statutory Nuisance Act 1990, was served by registered post. This is a formal order to stop or restrict a statutory nuisance such as noise.
Further complaints were made in December 2025 after this notice.
The responsible authorities have all been consulted and licensing have lodged a representation, relating the prevention of public nuisance.
The committee must decided whether to take appropriate action for the promotion of licensing objectives.
Update
A spokesperson for Sauté Grill & Meze Restaurant said: “We are aware of the upcoming licensing sub-committee meeting. Any noise-related concerns raised previously were taken seriously and addressed, and appropriate measures are in place as part of our day-to-day operations.
“In recent months, there have been some adjustments to the on-site management arrangements, including additional floor-level oversight. Noise levels are now being effectively managed.
“We continue to work constructively with the relevant authorities and remain committed to operating responsibly and being a considerate neighbour.”
Dining and Cooking