A new rock bar has been granted an alcohol and live music licence despite neighbours’ fears the noise will leave them “prisoners” in their own homes.

The Dracula Parrot could welcome heavy metal lovers to a unit formerly used as an Escape Rooms venue in Snargate Street, Dover, by mid-summer.

Despite residents’ concerns, the two men behind the venture say it will be a positive addition to the area and reduce anti-social behaviour as they restore that part of town to its “former glory”.

Business partners John Biggs and Simon Lock intend to play recorded music and host bands, serving beverages named after tracks such as Iron Maiden’s Trooper.

Their bid to serve alcohol and put on live sets was given the green light at a Dover District Council licensing subcommittee meeting on April 12, despite six public objections.

The pair are now hoping their change-of-use application to convert the empty unit - previously occupied by Get Out Escape Rooms - into a bar will be approved next.

Gareth Pearce, who lives nearby, told the committee about his concerns over possible noise coming from the new venue’s courtyard.

He said: “This new bar is trying to get benches outside in their courtyard that would be very noisy. You’ll be able to hear it several gardens away - no doubt about it.

“I’ve got nothing against people drinking and partying, just not there.”

He stressed that as Snargate Street faces the busy A20 - the main route to the Port of Dover - the “only reprieve” for residents comes at the back of their properties.

Neighbour Michelle Burkhardt, who attended with her husband Robin, expressed similar concerns, telling the licensing committee: “The front of the property is very noisy because we’ve got the A20.

“My only place of quiet is the back of my property where my bedroom and my kitchen are, and I also have a patio area which I spend quite a lot of time in.

“I like to sit out and read and relax on the patio. That’s just not going to happen because all I’m going to have is music and shouting. I’m going to be deprived of my sleep because of the talking, the shouting, the music, the slamming of the doors opening and closing.

“I’m just not going to have my quality of life with all this going on. I’m going to feel like a prisoner in my own flat, and that’s just not fair.”

Mr Burkhardt, who runs the nearby Old Curiosity Shop, said: “Snargate Street has a real problem with alcoholism and drug taking.

“Unfortunately we don’t seem to have a police force in this country anymore and we definitely don’t have it on Snargate Street. They don’t come down unless it's to arrest someone - we don’t have patrols.

“Why should we be adding to a problem that we already have?

‘I’m just not going to have my quality of life with all this going on...’

“The sound is going to bounce all around that courtyard and it’s going to be impossible for all of us to sleep.”

Mr Lock assured the objectors that measures would be taken to reduce noise from the bar.

He said: “We have agreed to soundproof the wall between the live music area and the courtyard at both ends, which would prevent the escape of noise when that door is open.”

Addressing fears of anti-social behaviour, Mr Lock said The Dracula Parrot would make the area safer, due to increased footfall.

“A nightlife hotspot is a safer environment than a deserted commercial backstreet,” he told the committee.

• Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal

He shared his hopes that the venue will restore Snargate Street to “its former glory as a vibrant hub of Dover’s community”.

Mr Lock said he and his business partner intend to offer a different experience than the other nightlife in town.

He said: “We’ll be introducing a safe haven, if you like, for alternative music enthusiasts and providing a new venue for local bands to play their music for a live audience.”

He added that bands are already “lining up to play on our premises”.

After more than 30 minutes of deliberation, the council’s licensing panel decided to grant the application.

The venue will be allowed to serve alcohol from 11am to 10.30pm Monday to Thursday, 11am to 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12pm to 10pm on Sundays.

They are also permitted to play recorded music indoors from 11pm to 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and to host live music indoors for the hours alcohol is being served.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Biggs said: “This is the first hurdle we’ve got to get over - the second one being the planning.

“There’s a lot of interest from local bands because what we want to promote is local music. We’ve seen the death of small venues and you don’t see bands coming up the way that they used to.”

He added that if their plans are approved, renovations will take nine weeks and they hope to open in “mid-summer”.