A BBC star chef who was forced to apologise after closing his Michelin-starred restaurant is under fire again - over plans to hold "loud outdoor gigs" at a Warwickshire pub he runs.

Residents living near The Mount by Glynn Purnell in Henley-in-Arden, say their "peaceful town" is already being ruined by boozy pub goers. 

They now fear the High Street will be turned into a "lout's paradise" if the pub gets permission to stage a string of outdoor music concerts. 

The pub is owned by Purnell's millionaire business partner and friend Luke Fryer, 52. 

Mr Fryer and his wife Tania, 51, opened the pub in 2022 and hired Michelin star chef Purnell to run the kitchen. 

The Mount is run by Glynn Purnell (image via SWNS)

The eatery currently has permission to hold three alfresco gigs a year but has applied for permission to increase that number to 15 - with most concerts likely to take place in the spring and summer. 

People living near the pub are furious at the plans and say the beer garden already creates too much noise, including "bellowing parents" and rowdy drinkers. 

In a joint letter written to Stratford-on-Avon District Council, residents said: "We all appreciate that The Mount are trying to achieve a viable business, and we would point out that we are not unreasonable. 

"We already put up with the noise emanating from their garden when it is full of people. 

"This includes people having rows; people having loud phone conversations against our boundary; people bellowing at their kids when they think they're getting too near the river." 

The letter goes on that some customers have even verbally abused residents who have gardens backing onto the pub. 

The Mount is currently allowed to hold three events a year (image via SWNS)

Listing their complaints, they said there were incidents of "people having a go at us because we have the audacity to have a barbecue with friends in the privacy of our own garden and objecting to the smells from our barbecue." 

Brian and Sue Westmacott live next door to The Mount and have expressed alarm at the increase in noise coming from the pub. 

Brian, 69, said: "The existing licence permits three external or amplified events in the rear garden per annum. 

"The application seeks to increase this to 15. That represents a five-fold (400 per cent) increase in one step. 

"This is a significant and unreasonable increase. 

"Even if the applicant spread the events throughout the spring and summer, it would still amount to at least one event per fortnight, based on a simple average of 15 events across 26 weeks / weekends." 

Another resident and business owner, Holly Wingfield, 50, who lets out a flat above her shop, also said she was worried about the additional noise. 

She said: "I strongly object to The Mount's application to inflict even more noise on my tenant who dwells in the flat above my shop. 

"My tenant has complained to me about the music activities occurring regularly in the front of the pub. 

"She has also complained about the noise their guests make when vacating the premises late at night." 

Holly admitted a previous tenant had not complained about the noise but "she was an old lady who was extremely deaf". 

Residents in Henley-in-Arden are split over the plans (image via SWNS)

She added: "My worry is that the proposed increase of audible events will render the flat unlettable." 

Despite the wealth of opposition to the music plans, some locals are supportive. 

Sam Taylor, who works opposite the pub, said: "I am in and out of the office at all times, including when live music has been on, and have never heard music coming from the premises in question. 

"Since The Mount took over I feel that they have certainly impacted Henley in a positive way, and they seem to operate the business in a very professional manner." 

Another said she believed the pub should "have the freedom" to hold outside events while another urged the council to "support these venues". 

Pub owner Luke Fryer defended the plans to hold more outside events, adding: "We employ about 30 people in the pub, many of them live nearby so without the pub those jobs would not be there. 

"We want to make a viable business while working with residents living nearby. I'm not up in arms or divided with anyone about this." 

The controversy comes months after Purnell was forced to apologise after suddenly closing his Michelin-starred restaurant in Birmingham, leaving diners stunned. 

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's licensing committee will debate the application to increase the number of outside events on Tuesday (22 April).