Speakers in garden

Would love your opinion on garden speakers and music played in the garden.
Ok or anti-social behaviour?

I guess it depends on factors.

Are you playing music loud enough to annoy the neighbours and/or at 2am? Probably anti-social

Are you just listening to music at a reasonable volume during daylight hours? Probably OK

If it’s just for you, safest bet is to invest in a decent pair of wireless headphones.

Depends really. As long as volume is kept to a reasonable level and huge speakers aren’t in the middle of the garden then I am fine with it. Loud music broadcast to the entire neighbourhood through a stack of bass bins - not so much. Obviously if I like the music all the better!
People make all sorts of noise in gardens - a sudden uptake of DIY has meant the sound of rip saws and impact drivers has risen somewhat. Children at home are out in the gardens shouting and shrieking and adults are equally making enough noise too.
However I have found that virtually everyone round here is perfectly peaceful and keeping to the social contract - perhaps even more so than in normal times. Very quite for the most part and I am happy to put up with the background noise that is part of city life (until I move!!)

If you think it might be antisocial, it probably is.

I use a wifi speaker. The first time I used it I asked my neighbours if they could hear, and if so was it bothersome. That worked.

Depends on the size of your garden/distance from neighbours, is this a one-off birthday type occasion or a frequent occurrence? For more than a one-off I think garden speakers are a no-no.

Oftentimes lately I find I can’t read in my garden when a neighbour is in hers because she leaves her house door or windows open so she can play music inside when she’s sittng in the back garden. But I’m closer to it than she is, so I guess I get it louder than she and I can’t concentrate. This is a new occurrence, so I’m hoping it’s just a phase she’s going through.

The odd party music I don’t mind, as long as it’s not too bassy or too late (like the dawn coming up like thunder late.)

I never listen to music (or radio plays, which I’m addicted to) in the garden myself, because I know my neighbours would hear it and don’t feel that’s fair.

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I was really embarrassed yesterday when I had to hang on the phone trying to contact Boots online pharmacy, who have messed up my prescription. 1 hr 15 mins it was before they cut me off and I had the phone on speaker blaring out the most awful, talentless and distorted crap musak all that time. I was at my desk indoors but it must have been a good half an hour before I realized the window beside me was open. My neighbours must think I’m not only rude but have a terrible hi fi system and an even worse taste in music.

It’s poll time! What do people think about neighbours who play music regularly* in their gardens?

*at least once a week

It depends on what they are playing, how loud and time of day. There was a house on Trilby Road where someone used to play rubbish pop music out an open window and sing along merrily completely out of tune. That’s definitely annoying ! I listen to music outdoors on occasion but try not to do so in an irritating way.

I’m an awful one for singing in the car. I’m told I do an especially painful Joni Mitchell. Oh Canadahhha …

It’s all a question of degree and frequency.

I have no problem with the occasional music session during the day/evening at not too loud a level - sometimes (if it’s a genre you personally like) it can actually be quite good - if you’re on good terms with the neighbour you can lean over the fence and chat about the tracks they’re playing.

What I don’t think is ever acceptable is the inevitable party still going at stupid o’ clock with the volume at a level that can shake plaster off the walls.

It all depends , from time,type of music and volume . I love music I do listen myself but I m using the head phone . Don t want to bother the neighbours ,we don t know if they work lo g shift,having a nap ,need some quiet time or are listening other music . If is not too loud ,between 11 pm to 7:30 am and music with full of swear words ,well , I don t mind my self . It is all about common sense and respect for other people .

Our new next door neighbours have a very similar taste in music to me so the occasional late night audible tunes (with highly amusing vocal joining in) is a source of hilarity. I rather like vicariously enjoying their outdoor Saturday pub evenings. Although I wish there was a bit less Oasis in their mix.

The tweenagers in the flat two stories up from us who love karaoke to crap Christian pop, I’m less keen on. But they aren’t that loud and usually pipe down by about 10pm.

However the guys from Segal Close who occasionally pump out drum and bass loud and late can go jump in the sea.

We don’t do it - if we want a quiet late night disco we do it through quiet Bluetooth speakers in our dining room.

Maybe ask your neighbours if they can hear and if they mind, and be willing to pack it in if it’s really bothering them?*

*Dearly wish another neighbour would take this approach with their kids’ very early morning (6.00am) squealing football practice right by our bedroom window…

I play music on my smart phone when I’m out in the garden. I’ve asked the neighbours on either side if it was bothersome and they were okay with it. Asking is the key factor. We’ve also agreed as a street that, during the lockdown, if your music is enjoyable and we can all have a boogie then go ahead.

Now, the neighbours behind me have proper speakers out when they have friends around for a BBQ. It can be annoying especially it’s starts to get repetitive and too loud, but it doesn’t happen on a regular occasion and of course it’s stopped since the lockdown.

It’s good of you to ask. British people are generally very polite when asked. And good that they said they’re okay with it.

Although that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re entirely okay with it. They might just be politely accommodating you.

It’s a trade off. I am enjoying the true silence we now have. It reminds me of living in the country. So I’m less inclined to get annoyed by the odd break in that silence by loud music. Like the couple who do their work outs on their patio to a range of AOR classics. It’s like having Mr. Motivator and the Green Goddess next door in the 'hood.

My neighbours would definitely tell me if it was a problem, without hesitation. One them isn’t British and speaks her mind, freely. Definitely do not want to get on the wrong side of her. The other, who is British, we’ve been neighbours for 15 years and have always been honest with each other. Not that is makes any difference but I’m not British (how did you know I’m not it’s something I’ve not discussed here?), I do have a tendency to say yes to keep the peace but I would also ask permission or forewarn others potentially bother someone else.

At the end of the day, if your neighbours ask you if something is okay and your response is yes, then you have no right to complain unless they take advantage of the situation.

I don’t know your cultural background and I wasn’t implying it in any case. Apologies if my post suggested so.

That’s okay, I wasn’t too sure. When you made a point of mentioning ‘British’, I did think you knew I wasn’t hence your point. But it’s all good, thanks for clarifying

If your neighbours are regularly finding they can’t enjoy peace in their garden, it’s probably antisocial.

Personally over the last five or six years I’ve regularly had my Saturday and Sunday afternoons and some week day evenings in the garden ruined by very loud music from the beer garden of a nearby pub. Obviously it’s currently closed and frankly it’s been wonderful not to have to put up with it. If the neighbours started to fill the noise gap, I’d be furious! But a one off party is fine. Or if it’s not loud enough for me to hear!

Of course the pub will soon open and the beer garden with its fresh open air will be more in demand than ever. Sigh.

Its really antisocial. Unless it’s a one off party. Otherwise it’s noise pollution when people want to relax and enjoy nature in the garden or just some peace in their house( as garden noise bound to come through windows too.)

This is something that is difficult. Did you move to the house after the pub was established?

The reason I ask is that so many good music venues have been closed down by people who move next door without really understanding where they were moving, and a community venue is lost to all.

We came close to buying three doors down from the Kentish Town Forum but the sale fell through for unrelated reasons. But our eyes were wide open about what behaviour we would see on our doorstep (having previously lived very close to the Arsenal Stadium). So we decided to buy in a quiet part of SE23 and not so close to an entertainment venue in the end.

But buying next to a pre existing venue or restaurant and then complaining about the noise just sounds like a lack of awareness of what you were buying, and where.

The pub has changed ownership since I moved here. The noise problem (and also elements of anti-social behaviour, like urinating in the street/yelling and shouting in the street at closing etc) did not exist under the previous landlord.

I’m talking about a large speaker on the balcony of a resident it’s bank holiday but come on its 6 o clock I’ve suffered this since 12 I don’t mind music but you can hear this speaker round the whole block honestly