Guy Ritchie’s Pub Mystery

Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie is working to solve his own real-life mystery. RadarOnline.com has learned that Ritchie is working with London’s Westminster Council to figure out the noise levels outside his star-studded pub The Punch Bowl which has been the subject of some local complaints.

After receiving 37 complaints, the council has placed a microphone outside the building to monitor sounds at the Mayfair bar.

“The microphone is being used to monitor noise and we are actively trying to work with our customers and local residents,” bar manager Chris Blundell told RadarOnline.com. “We are working with Westminster Council to try and solve the problem regarding noise levels. On summer nights we have security staff who actively move customers off the pavements and inside the pub at 9pm in an attempt to reduce the noise.”

The traditional style bar – which dates back to 1750 – has become a favorite with celebrities such as Jude Law, Justin Timberlake and Jason Statham, with even Prince William dropping-in for a pint.

“Although Westminster Council did receive complaints a lot of local residents frequent the pub, so, we have a lot of local support too,” Blundell added. “Hopefully, this situation will be able to be resolved and everyone will be happy with the outcome.”

A spokesman from Westminster Council revealed to RadarOnline.com that the microphone had been placed outside the pub on Friday, August 7, 2009, and will stay in place until Friday, August 21, 2009. The single microphone measures decibel levels and does not pick-up or record voices or conversations.

“After the two week period is over we will take a look at the readings and a review will take place,” the spokesperson said. “Depending on the results we will then listen to local residents and our environmental ‘noise inspectors’ plus the police before making any decisions. It could be that the terms of the license are changed slightly, maybe closing 30 minutes earlier and customers are controlled more with drinking outside.”

It’s not all bad news just yet and the spokesperson is optimistic of what will happen and is pleased with the current progress: “So far the owners of The Punch Bowl have co-operated with us - their door supervisors are bringing people inside by 9pm and trying to reduce noise outside.The ultimate sanction is that the license could be revoked but this is very unlikely – at the moment this is just a ‘review procedure’ as a result of the complaints we received.”