By Carol Britton Meyer

Much of the three-hour-plus discussion during this week’s select board meeting centered around the consideration – and ultimate approval – of the Tipsy Tuna restaurant’s live entertainment license request and the continuous back-and-forth between the board and Anthony Ghosn, Freidy Elkhoury’s partner in the business, to iron out all the details.

The level of noise from the live outdoor entertainment is an issue for some neighbors, reflected in a number of complaints to the Hull Police Department in the past, which Ghosn acknowledged.

“We don’t want to be a nuisance to anyone,” he said. “The quality of life of my neighbors is something I take into consideration.”

The select board approved the renewal of the restaurant’s seasonal all-alcoholic and common victualer licenses last week to allow the business to open on May 1 for the new season, but stopped short of approving the requested entertainment license renewal pending the need for more information about the history of Tipsy Tuna’s past live entertainment requests and approvals.

Town Manager Jennifer Constable provided that information this week, researched by town staff. “Live entertainment in particular was restricted during COVID,” she noted.

In 2023, Tipsy Tuna, at 276 Nantasket Ave., was approved for a 1 a.m. closing time, along with a four-piece band for live entertainment. However, that information was not reflected on the actual license for some reason, according to Constable.

The 2024 seasonal live entertainment license application considered by the board this week requested approval for a 1 a.m. closing time, among other considerations.

Following a lengthy discussion, the board approved specific hours for piped-in, jukebox, and karaoke music – and live indoor/outdoor music Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to midnight – instead of the requested 1 a.m. out of consideration for neighbors – Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight.

To help resolve the noise issue, the Tipsy Tuna is hiring a sound engineer to make recommendations for reducing the decibel level. Noting that there are about 200 abutters to the restaurant, Ghosn pointed out that the complaints weren’t from that many people.

“The problem is in one concentrated area,” he said. “The sound is traveling up the hill behind [the restaurant], which makes it easier to remediate.”

Despite losing sleep due to the noise from live outdoor entertainment, Porrazzo Road resident John Farley said he holds both men in high regard.

“I’m not wanting them to alter their hours of business, but the decibel readings are too high,” he said.

Live entertainment begins on Memorial Day. Prior to voting on the live entertainment hours, the board approved requiring Ghosn and Elkhoury to present the results of the sound mitigation plan two weeks after Memorial Day to see how effective the remediation has been, with the possibility of adjusting the hours ultimately approved by the board, at the owners’ request.

“The size of the bands and the number of bodies is 90% of the problem,” Select Board Chair Greg Grey said.

Board member Brian McCarthy suggested that Tipsy Tuna owners meet with the neighbors informally before Memorial Day as a community outreach effort.

Board member Jerry Taverna reiterated that he thinks the board should develop an entertainment policy for the area along the beachfront to address these issues.

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