Mediterranean nights in Zurich – the residents feel let down by the party noise – News
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The test phase in Zurich shows: Garden pubs appreciate longer opening hours at the weekend – the local residents less.
Hardly any summer would have been more suitable for this project by the city of Zurich than the current one: long nights, warm temperatures and non-existent corona measures were a good foundation for an attempt to bring additional momentum to Zurich’s nightlife. Gastro establishments with a permit were allowed to open their outdoor areas until 2 a.m. on six weekends.
More than 120 catering establishments have held such “Mediterranean Nights”. They are satisfied with the response: “It was worth it,” says Sophia Rank from the Rank cultural venue in Zurich’s Niederdorf nightlife district. And Philipp Krampf from the Cranberry Bar also says: “From our side, it was a complete success.”
High noise pollution for residents
Felix Stocker is less euphoric. He lives in Zurich Niederdorf and is also active in the neighborhood association. He is opposed to longer opening hours, a catering company should not run practically around the clock. “I’m glad it’s over,” he says – and looks to the future with worry lines. “There will be no peace in the city center. It will be a warm weekend, and the burden on local residents will remain high.”
For Stocker, the city of Zurich is sending out the wrong signal with the “Mediterranean Nights”. They communicate to people that they can go out and don’t have to follow any rules. “Young people stay in public spaces, bring their drinks and music boxes with them. They act loud and wake people up.” It’s a negative effect of the whole thing.
With the Mediterranean nights, the city communicates to people that they can go out and don’t have to follow any rules
When asked about the noise problem, the city of Zurich appeased. “Noise is a matter of perception. Some find noise disturbing, others not,” says Mathias Ninck from the Zurich City Security Department. But you certainly have to seek dialogue with the residents of the district.
However, the pure numbers do not indicate a problematic noise pollution. During the six weeks of test operation, the Zurich city police received 10 noise complaints that could be traced back to the “Mediterranean nights”. And the Bar and Club Commission only recorded 5 calls per weekend on their specially introduced noise hotline.
Bar operators are looking for a conversation with the neighbors
Bar operators say they are waiting for a good relationship with the residents. “We were always in conversation with the neighbors, so we didn’t have any complaints,” says Philipp Krampf from the Cranberry Bar. And Sophia Ender also emphasizes that thanks to her expected cultural local rank, there was an organized and calm structure.
A comprehensive analysis should now provide clarity – because longer opening times for catering establishments were also tested in other Swiss cities. The future of the “Mediterranean Nights” in Zurich should therefore only be decided in a few months.