Authorities start checking outdoor bars for nighttime noise

Toomas Hõbemägi

City of Tallinn authorities have started checking complaints that outdoor cafeterias and bars are disturbing local residents by making noise late in the evening.

Postimees writes that by city regulations, catering facilities such as street cafes in Tallinn Old Town must make sure that there is no noise after 11 pm. Since summer nights are warm, several cafeterias and bars have decided to keep their outdoor terraces open and keep serving customers also after 11 pm.

Mart Tomson who manages Pegasus cafeteria in the Tallinn Old Town says that while in Europe street cafeterias are allowed to keep serving customers as long as there is even one customer, Tallinn is moving in the opposite direction.

“Nights are warm and customers would like to sit outside by midnight. Perhaps residents of Tallinn Old Town should understand that this is not the place for enjoying peace and quiet,” said Tomson.