Neighbours talking in garden til midnight

It would annoy me too Atqui and I agree that people can say YABU without being rude.
If we were in the garden that late we would talk quietly. We wouldn't want everyone to hear our conversation anyway. But then people don't care about that nowadays (talking loudly on mobile phones on trains eg).
However I wouldn't say anything unless it was every night.
And short term tenants often don't care as much about what neighbours think. You can tell the rented houses in our street by the messy front gardens and hedges taking up half the pavement.

Well droning voices would lull me off to sleep But I still think because it’s not a year round thing and will only happen for a few odd nights a year it’s not something to get het up about
...live and let live
Unfortunately because the first time it annoyed you your brain will be all the more tuned into it and It will become even more annoying
It’s like husbands (or wives) that snore or a house with a loud ticking clock things you re not used to tend to annoy when it comes to sleep but it really could be so much worse Drug addicts could have moved in or people playing loud music or lots of young children, screaming babies, a whining or barking dog

I can understand why this would annoy you OP. If you are out in your garden at 11pm you should be mindful that it’s likely some of your neighbours might be trying to sleep. To carry on with loud voices as if it’s the middle of the day is selfish and inconsiderate. All that’s needed is a little bit of thought for others.

I worked a three shift system for many years. Nights shifts during summer were the worst when all types of gardening and social activities took place. But I just had to get used to it. One neighbour reformed following a night visit to A/E when he said I looked tired. Maybe your stone cutting machine had a hand in it was my reply (or words to that effect) After that he enquired when I would be on nights and the whole family became firm friends - and still are decades later.

Our house backs on to communal gardens that lead down to the Thames, we are well used to people socialising until late, talking, laughing, tinkling of glasses. Across the river directly opposite is a rowing club and a pub, under normal circumstances they also produce a helluva lot of noise. Goes with the territory, I really don't mind...………..and then there's the geese, they can start honking early hours of the morning at times and well with this extraordinarily hot weather, which arrives every summer now, windows open through the nigh is a must. When we moved here I thought we'd never get used to it!

Better than the noise made by grandma24 neighbours ....

We used to live near a very sporty family. 2 parents and three children. One week it might be running. Dad outside with a stopwatch while children pounded the pavements. Unsafe to stand on pavement. Next week ,cycling. Even more dangerous to stand on pavement. Then, tennis. Little girl screamed all day. Trampoline week was the worst. All 5 were on it, shouting and screaming all week. Late into the night also.
They were a very strange family who never said hello or acknowledged you were there.
We live in a nice quiet area now.

I agree noisy talking is really selfish and distracting. A selfish country we now live in. Talk quietly if you have neighbours or go in doors and use a fan. Nothing worse than listening to super boring conversations and ghastly tones (hardly Queen's English these days)

I had neighbours who lived in their small front garden in summer and had barbecues most nights. The children stayed up very late. The noise and smell was just 6’ from my window. Rain was no respite because they had 2 gazebos.
It’s not unreasonable to expect neighbours to respect bedtime, even in summer.

No, you are not being unreasonable. The weather may be warm but this doesn't change folks life. If it's a once in a blue moon thing fine, if it's on a regular basis well no. Some folk have no idea how loud they are,, a lot of times due to alcohol. Why do folk think everyone else wants to hear their noise early into the morning.

Having to sleep with the windows open means you hear every car door slam and mobile phone conversation, even worse was screaming the other weekend. An irate ex turned up and attacked a lady in a flat, we then had a night of police vehicles and door slamming. I had retired to bed early but was left goggle eyed and weary at 4am.
I am starting to wonder about this one particular flat as it seems to have changeovers so frequently that it can not be a normal letting.

Actually tbe trouble with loud auduble talkng is that you cant help hearing every word which is more disturbing than constant traffic noise. At least it is to me! So I can see the problem.

If its loud talking then YANBU. I agree with what Biblio said. Also I think its time the law on noise was changed to make it easier to get people to stop.

up date....my neighbours talking till 4am.

I think if their talk is loud, bordering on shouting, then I don’t think you are being unreasonable. If it’s just ordinary volume, then I think yes you are, a bit. The problem is that on still nights, voices carry further and can seem louder than they perhaps are. Actually, 12.15 is not unduly late for a Saturday evening.
If there is loud music, too, then I can understand why you might be irritated, but I’m assuming not, as you didn’t mention music. As others suggest, maybe close the window and use a fan or leave window ajar but wear some earplugs?

But would you still like it at midnight goldengirl when you had to close your bedroom window to escape it, as the Op has described? In this heat???

Perhaps I'm a little odd but I find people talking in the garden next door somewhat comforting. It's the shouting in the street I don't like or the revving of car engines. There are also children next door to us who are always noisy but our own GC unwittingly retaliate. Live and let live is my motto in these circumstances.

I think some on here have been very unfair to the OP.

I find it extraordinary that so many people don't seem to realise just how much sound carries, especially with the current weather, people outside and windows open.

Our first house when we got married was a mid terraced house with, inevitably, back gardens very close together.
If we were outside in the evening (1976 comes to mind!)we would speak very quietly to each other, aware as I was that our voices could carry and be heard by the neighbours.

I would have a polite word with them Atqui.
It's very possible they don't realise that you can hear them.

Failing that, it's good in a way that the house is rented as their tenancy agreement will state that they mustn't cause a nuisance to others, so if it continues you could contact the letting agents.

We have a property we rent out and I would hate to think our tenants were being a problem to the neighbours.

Living near rented houses that change tenants every six months is very different from living near houses with longterm occupants. We have neighbours who sit outside long after dark, and my daughter finds it very disruptive to her sleep pattern because of very loud laughing in the early hours. They also have neighbours with small children, and some elderly neighbours.
As I have said before part of living in society is having respect for the needs of others. Empathy is often in short supply.

My noise is fine. Your noise, on the other hand, is dreadful.
My DM, now deceased, used to complain about her young neighbour with his ghetto blaster until he turned in her one day and said he didn't much like her opera on her radio!

Am so glad a few more people have showed support for this matter. I do sometimes feel that social courtesy or consideration for others is deemed old fashioned and only for fuddy-duddy types. There is nothing wrong in expecting people to consider others and not to take offense if its pointed out (tactfully). I was reminded yesterday when watching Wimbledon. The crowd was politely asked 'As a matter of courtesy to the players, to keep quiet during rallies'. Enthusiastic yelling has its place but sometimes a little hush is more important.
My Mum always told us children off if we got too noisy in the garden. I can still hear her saying 'Don't scream unless your being killed'.....it was sort of a joke but we got the message. Children having fun in the garden is one thing....yelling and screaming is quite different. I also feel that some people have lost the art of private conversation. OH and I can natter together in the garden in such a way that only someone a few feet away could hear it....its how I was brought up....when I'm chatting to someone only they need to hear, some people seem to need to broadcast their whole conversations. Don't get me started on those with a phone!!!

I think it is quite hard to sleep in the heat and some people don't know how far their voices travel on a still night. I agree with the suggestion of joining in . Could you call out Lovely evening isn't it? And then they might realise how loud they were. Then you could do a Walton family type of goodnight.

Atqui,I agree that it's annoying when the noise goes on too late.People should show some consideration,and try to keep it down a bit.I have neighbours who sometimes don't come out till midnight and are are still talking loudly at 2 am,not too often thank goodness.Perhaps I'm turning into a grumpy old woman,I 'm 67,and should move to somewhere for elderly people.I suppose it's what you have to put up with when you live among a mixture of age groups.I still think 11 or 11.30 would be a good time to start being quiet.

I think 11pm cut-off is reasonable for chatter in the garden during good weather - just shows an understanding for neighbours, I'd think.

Now, I have an early rising neighbour who sweeps his driveway at 6am. It's a beautiful morning, why on earth should people still be abed seems to the thoughts of my retired 91 year old neighbour .... As I don't leave for work until 8am why on earth would I want that extra hour + of sleep ...

Thanks for that Biblio