A BROMSGROVE town centre pub is applying to have its licence extended so it can open until 4am at weekends and on bank holidays.
The Dog and Pheasant, Worcester Road, which can already open until 2am from Monday to Saturday and 1am on Sunday, will have its application heard by Bromsgrove District Council’s licensing sub-committee on Thursday (August 6).
The venue, because of a decline in weekday trade, currently only opens on Friday and Saturday.
As part of their application, bosses stated that most of their sales occurred after 1am on those days.
The new licence, should permission be granted, would see last orders called at 3.30am and the pub close at 4am.
The pub argues it has successfully had temporary licences to trade during those hours on numerous occasions but, it added, the process to apply for them was time consuming and costly.
But, following the application, there have been numerous objections from residents, business owners and Bromsgrove Police who say they have been called out to nine incidents there since the start of the year.
Among them have been noise complaints, a man refusing to leave after being ejected, a problem with a taxi driver, two assaults and four fights, including one which began as a snowball fight and got out of hand.
Insp Sarah Corteen said her objection was based on the previous incidents and a belief that the 4am licence would lead to an increase in crime and disorder, public nuisance and a risk to public safety.
Among the objections from residents are that the increased noise from music and ‘people loitering’ would have a negative impact on their quality of life.
Those living nearby say the current noise levels, when doors are left open at the venue, already disturb them and their children, preventing them from sleeping.
One even complained the area already had blood and vomit stains on windows, doors and the pathway on the mornings after.
And they added they feared the ‘Worcester Road would become a no go area for residents’.
Objections were also raised by bosses at Love 2 Love nightclub, which currently has a licence to call last orders at 3.30am and close at 4am.
They state that, as their capacity is 625 and the Dog and Pheasant’s is 375, that would mean, potentially, 1,000 people would be out on Worcester Road at the same time, causing problems for local takeaways and taxis.
