Councillors have imposed tighter restrictions on a village pub following complaints about late night karaoke.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council reviewed the licence of the Gardeners Rest in Brindley Ford after residents complained they were being frequently kept awake at night by loud music.

The council's licensing sub-committee has now agreed to reduce the pub's opening hours and restrict the number of musical events it can host.

Restrictions include limiting amplified live music to Friday or Saturday nights, and no more than once every two weeks.

Ward councillor Dave Mountford, who applied for the review on behalf of residents, told the sub-committee that nobody wanted to see the Gardeners Rest close down, but that tighter conditions would be needed.

He said that residents had been unhappy at both the level of noise and the frequency of the pub's open mic nights, karaoke, professional performances and discos, particularly since it reopened under new management in March.

Cllr Mountford said: "This review is not about hostility towards the pub, nor is it an attempt to prevent a legitimate business from operating. A well-managed pubic house can be a huge asset.

"However, that operation must be balanced against the right of neighbouring residents to enjoy their homes without repeated and unreasonable disturbance.

"Residents have reported amplified music and karaoke intruding in their homes, and disruption from customers arriving and leaving. They are describing the cumulative effect of a premises whose activities have repeatedly effected their ability to sleep, hear their televisions, open their windows or enjoy their own homes."

Environmental health officer Hamish Roscoe said an investigation into the Gardeners Rest had yet to conclude whether there is a statutory nuisance.

But he told the sub-committee he believed measures could be brought in to address residents' complaints.

Mr Roscoe said: "I think clear and reasonable conditions could be imposed to manage the output of noise from these premises, whether that be limiting the number of events per month or limiting the times."

Piers Warne, representing designated premises supervisor Bek Toplis and pub owner Punch, conceded that 'some mistakes' had been made in the first few months after the pub's reopening.

But he said the pub had now taken steps to address the problems, such as carrying out noise level monitoring and keeping doors and windows closed during performances, and that Punch had proposed a set a 'robust and meaningful' conditions.

The sub-committee also heard how more than a dozen customers had written in support of the Gardeners Rest, saying how important the pub is to the local community.

Mr Warne said: "This is the last surviving pub in the village. There's no longer a local shop. You can see from the representations from residents supporting the pub, that there is concern they could lose their last place to go. They find the pub incredibly important to their life.

"Entertainment has been scaled back significantly from those first few months that caused this review."

After considering the evidence, the sub-committee agreed to make a number of changes to the pub's licence.

Opening times will end at 11.30pm, Sunday to Thursday, and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays – changing from the current closing times of 12.30am and 1.30am.

No live or recorded music will be permitted in the beer garden, which will have to close for consumption of food or drink by 10pm.

Acoustic events will be allowed from Sunday to Thursday, but no more than once every two weeks. And amplified music events will only be allowed on Fridays and Saturdays, and no more than once every two weeks.

All doors and windows must be closed during performances, and entertainment cannot be held on consecutive days. The pub will also have to prepare a noise management plan and install a noise limiting device.