Contact:
  •  Environmental Protection Team
  • Address:

     9-10 Bath Street Bath BA1 1SN

  • E-mail:
    environmental_protection@bathnes.gov.uk
  • Telephone:
     01225 477563
  • Fax:
     01225 477596
  • Minicom:
     
  • Page Updated:
    14/05/2008
  • Author:
     Keith Fowler
A to Z Index

Busking and Street Entertaining

Busking and other forms of street entertainment are part of the Bath ‘experience’, creating an enhanced atmosphere and providing pleasure to many people, both local residents and visitors.  Buskers and Street Entertainers in Bath are asked to follow a Code of Practice, which is detailed below.

On occasion, however, particularly for people living or working in the city centre, busking may be intrusive, annoying, indecent and offensive.  As a result, both the Local Authority and the Police receive many complaints about the volume and sometimes the nature of busking and street entertainment.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 noise in the street from musical instruments may be a statutory nuisance and the Local Authority is able to take legal action to abate the nuisance and prohibit or restrict its recurrence; this may include the seizure of musical instruments and amplification equipment.   

PLEASE NOTE:  THE COUNCIL DOES NOT LICENCE BUSKERS

If you encounter problems with Street Entertainers please contact the following people:

For matters relating to obstruction of the ‘public highway’ and offensive behaviour –  The Police 01275 818181 

For matters relating to noise control - Bath & North East Somerset Council 01225 477563

Code Of Practice

1.  Noise (for example music and voice) should not be so loud that it can plainly be heard at a distance of 50 metres.  Busking must not be intrusive or a nuisance to nearby premises. 

2.  Amplification equipment is not permitted.

3.  An entertainer should not perform for longer than 1 hour in any location and should not perform again in that location (or within 50 metres of it) for 2 hours.  Note: particularly noisy entertainers (e.g. bagpipers or  drummers) should not perform for longer than 30 minutes.

4.  Entertainers shall not obstruct the highway.  Entertainers are also responsible for ensuring that the highway is not obstructed by people gathering to listen or to watch the performance.  The highway includes any pedestrianised areas.

5.  An entertainer should not locate within 50 metres of another entertainer who is also performing.

6.  Entertainment is only permitted between the hours of 10:00hrs and 20:00hrs.