Reigate’s The Cage cancels live music over noise complaint

A Quarter-Century of Music at Risk

For 26 years, The Cage Wine Bar has been synonymous with live music in Reigate town centre, hosting intimate performances that drew locals and visitors alike. Now, following a noise complaint to Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, the venue has made the difficult decision to suspend all upcoming gigs indefinitely—a move that’s sent shockwaves through our community’s live music scene.

Co-owners Adrian Rothera and Rory Fry-Stone describe themselves as collaborative neighbours. When they first learned of the complaint, they immediately took action, working with artists to reduce performance volumes and moving finish times from 23:00 to 22:30. Yet despite these concessions, the noise abatement notice prompted them to cancel performances entirely.

The frustration from the owners is palpable. “We don’t know what more we need to do,” Rothera explained, highlighting a central tension: the council’s abatement notice doesn’t explicitly forbid live music, but it also hasn’t provided clear guidance on acceptable noise levels. This lack of specification has left The Cage’s team uncertain whether any performance volume would satisfy the requirements.

For a venue that’s survived more than two decades, this uncertainty feels particularly devastating. The Cage isn’t just a bar—it’s been a cultural fixture that’s helped define Reigate’s evening economy.

Winter Viability and the Summer-to-Winter Cycle

Here’s what many residents don’t realise about hospitality in Reigate: seasonal patterns make or break businesses. Fry-Stone was candid about this economic reality: “This venue doesn’t work in the winter.”

The Cage relies on four to six outdoor summer gigs monthly to generate revenue that carries the business through the quiet months of November, January, February, and March. Anyone who’s worked in hospitality recognises this cycle—summer events are financial lifelines. Without them, The Cage faces genuine viability questions heading into 2025.

This isn’t about greed or negligence. It’s about survival in an industry where foot traffic and spending patterns are dramatically seasonal. The outdoor summer performances aren’t luxuries—they’re essential to keeping the lights on during slower periods when Reigate’s hospitality scene naturally quiets down.

The decision to cancel upcoming performances has broader ripple effects too. Local artists who’ve relied on The Cage as a performance venue suddenly find themselves without a platform. Musicians who’ve built relationships with the venue over years now face cancelled bookings and lost income.

Reigate MP Rebecca Paul has acknowledged live music’s importance to “Reigate’s vibrancy,” recognising that venues like The Cage contribute to what makes our town attractive. The economic and cultural impact of losing this venue’s performance calendar extends far beyond the bar itself.

What Comes Next: Community Action and Resolution

A petition supporting The Cage has garnered nearly 10,000 signatures—a clear indication that Reigate residents value this venue and what it represents. The owners have been explicit that their complaint isn’t with their neighbour, but with the lack of clear communication from the council about what compliance looks like.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council maintains that the abatement notice allows for appropriately managed events, but places responsibility on The Cage’s owners to determine what “appropriate” means. Council leader Richard Biggs is now arranging a direct conversation with The Cage’s team to work towards solutions.

For local residents, here’s what matters: this situation reveals a gap in how our community balances legitimate noise concerns with supporting local businesses and culture. If you value live music in Reigate, now’s the time to engage constructively. The petition remains active, and community voices matter in these conversations.

The outcome of talks between The Cage and the council will set precedent for how Reigate manages similar situations in future. Whether it involves specific noise monitoring, revised performance windows, or other practical measures, the solution must allow this 26-year institution to survive. Like a loft conversion that respects a building’s integrity while creating new space, we need approaches that protect both resident wellbeing and community vibrancy. Watch this space for updates on resolution talks.

Source: The Cage in Reigate cancels upcoming gigs due to noise complaint