A legal notice issued this month states that music can be played until 1am in establishments located in Merchants Street, Old Bakery Street, Old Theatre Street, Republic Street, South Street, St Lucia Street, and Strait Street, up from 11pm.

Establishments in Archbishop Street and Saint Ursula Street were later also added to this list.

However, they must make sure that the volume is kept at a “moderate level” between the hours of 11pm and 1am.

Certain streets in Qawra, Buġibba and Paceville already benefit from this exemption, and Valletta’s inclusion in this list appears to be an acknowledgment from the authorities of the capital’s recent transformation into a popular nightlife hub.

However, it has angered a number of Valletta residents, some of whom even organised a protest under the banner of a group called Residenti Beltin.

PN MP Darren Carabott, who was elected on the first district (that includes Valletta), urged the government to publish all the reports and advice it received that convinced it to change the law.

“I also urge the government to publish a list of everyone it consulted with over this law,” he said.

“Consultation certainly didn’t take place with residents. Every Valletta resident I’ve visited on house visits all say that their rights have been forgotten.”

Valletta mayor Alfred Zammit has sought a compromise solution by proposing the legal notice only apply during the weekend and that the definition of “moderate music levels” be clearly defined to mean background music. 

Do you agree with this new legal notice?