A pretty little town in the Lake District is "being ruined" by the number of businesses selling alcohol, with the council saying there is excessive drinking and antisocial behaviour. Over three years ago, BownessTown Council "became aware of a rise in antisocial behaviour", which they believed was "a consequence of the high concentration of licensed premises".

The town council told the Express that they have "seen the number of licensed premises in Bowness-on-Windermere increase" and a subsequent growth in incidents of antisocial behaviour. In 2023, the number of premises selling alcohol equated to one for every 15 residents, "a very high figure", and more licences have since been granted.

The council said "problems are arising" because of the concentration, with a shift to day drinking and consequent drunkenness, public disorder and nuisance.

A spokesman added: "Bowness is one of the oldest settlements in the Lake District National Park and has been a visitor hub for many years, attracting families, hikers and boat users. This has changed. We receive numerous, regular complaints from residents disturbed by the music, the noise and behaviour of revellers, but also from touristswho feel the location is no longer safe or pleasant for them and their families."

In 2021, Windermere police station dealt with 268 violent crimes and public order offences; by 2023, this number had risen to 334. Cumbria Police said that "a high proportion of these violent assaults and public order offences have occurred within the licensed premises of Bowness".

Sarah Redmayne, 50, told the Guardianthat there are "too many people" visiting the town, noticing an increase in crime, particularly fights. "We're not in Manchester or London, are we?" she said. "We're just meant to be this little old village."

"We've got enough bars," Jane Skellam, 74, said. "I can hear the noise from the back of my house until three in the morning, especially on a Saturday."

Bowness Town Council says "the balance needs redressing between residents, old-style tourists, and trade", but the Lake District National Park Authority recently granted another premises license to The Laurel Cottage, a former guesthouse, to be converted into an 88-seater bar.

Bowness Town Council had previously objected to the application, saying that another bar allows the "further erosion of the special characteristics" of the national park ultimately "putting at risk the continued status of the Lake District as a World Heritage site".

But not all locals agree with the council. Angus Reid told the Express: "I live in the centre of Bowness and feel 100% safe. At 1am, like anywhere with nightclubs and late opening pubs, there are incidents which you can hear from the window, but most are just drunks having fun.

"We get our fair share of local tourists doing a Saturday pub crawl and catching the bus back home to Barrow and Ulverston, but there's rarely any trouble.

"What I would like to see is security on takeaways like they have on pubs to disperse the rowdies or an earlier close for them. Just seems to be where people congregate in the early hours, nothing sinister."

A number of other locals echoed his sentiments. Sarah Wilson, another local, said: "I live in Bowness and it's fine. Yeah, there's some drunkenness, like any town, but I feel safe."

Katrina Lee, who has visited Bowness as a tourist, added: "I certainly didn't feel unsafe late in the evening due to drunkenness. I found the lack of lighting or poor lighting in the car park to be more of a concern."