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Newport council approves Bar and Board second-floor deck with restrictions after heated neighborhood opposition
Summary
The City Council approved a 900-square-foot second-floor deck for Bar and Board on Thames Street after residents and hotel owners warned the addition would worsen late-night noise. Council attached existing license restrictions — no bar on the deck, no amplified music, closing by 10 p.m., and no alcohol service after 9:30 p.m. — and approved the expansion by voice vote.
The Newport City Council voted to approve an application by Bar and Board (282 Thames Street) to expand its licensed premises with a 900-square-foot second-floor deck and a temporary seasonal area, despite objections from nearby inn owners and residents.
The applicant's attorney, Tanner Jackson, said the upstairs seating is intended for dining and not entertainment: "There's gonna be no bar there, no music there," Jackson told the council, and manager Donna Contente added the deck would be tied to food service and close when the kitchen closes.
Neighbors and hotel owners warned the expansion would increase late-night noise and harm guest experiences. Diana Sutton, owner of the Almaden Inn, said the deck would be audible from guest rooms and urged stricter enforcement if problems arise: "Are they really going to close down the Second Floor at 10 p.m.?" she asked, adding that noise complaints already affect her online reviews.
Councilors noted the zoning board had reviewed the plan and the application includes a set of license conditions the city will incorporate. The clerk read standard restrictions offered by the applicant: no bar on the outdoor patio; alcohol served only with food to seated patrons; no outdoor alcohol service before noon except for brunch; no service after 9:30 p.m.; no amplified music (only acoustic) after 9 p.m.; patio closed by 10 p.m.; and no access to or from the rear parking lot from the patio.
Councilors who weighed neighborhood concerns urged enforcement of those conditions and offered routes for residents to report violations. John Prefer, manager of the Omni Inn, asked for assurance that complaints would be acted on and was directed to the Newport Police Department non-emergency line for enforcement follow-up.
After public comment from multiple abutters and a lengthy council exchange, members approved the application with the existing restrictions incorporated into the license. The vote was taken by voice and the motion carried.
The resolution incorporating the restrictions and the condition set will be part of the license file; further enforcement will be handled by city licensing staff and the police department if complaints continue.
