A HISTORIC pub that boasts Islington’s biggest beer garden has been granted retrospective planning permission - despite angry residents saying the noise from the revamped 800metre plot is making their lives a misery.

The listed Canonbury Tavern, in Canonbury Place, which has stood since the 1700s, was reopened last summer after a massive three-year refurbishment costing �2million. The refit included new stone paving and wooden decking being planted over part of the garden lawn and flowerbeds.

Residents insist the new surface is echoing and amplifying noise to intolerable levels – yet the application was pushed through on November 23 by an Islington Council planning committee.

Joe Horridge, of nearby Grange Grove, said: “The beer garden is making our lives a misery.

“I can hear the noise with my windows closed and my kids get woken up at night. Our tranquillity has been destroyed by the pub.

“It’s a big canyon in the middle of Canonbury where the voices of 200 people echo. It’s unbearable.”

The Canonbury Tavern’s Roy James claimed the increased volume was due to the pub’s growing success – and said he should not be blamed.

He said: “There can be no law against me running a pub with a beer garden in a more productive way than in the past.

“Before, the pub was led by drinking. We’re now a food-led business, and that means we’re getting better business.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor George Allan, who sat on the planning committee, said: “It’s difficult to believe that there is a canyon effect, as the pub is in quite an open area.

“There is absolutely no evidence to justify disallowing any planning permission.”