Nuns and pub in hours compromise

A group of nuns has reached an uneasy compromise with Greene King over new opening hours for an Oxford pub. The nuns from the John Henry Newman College had opposed plans for the Golden Ball in College Lane, Littlemore, to stay open until 2.30am. The nuns who go to bed at 9.00pm and get up at 5.00am told the licensing committee panel they were concerned that their night-time peace would be interrupted. In a compromise the Greene King owned pub was granted permission to serve until midnight every night and hold 12 live-music events a year.

JDW gets extra hours in Buxton

JD Wetherspoon has been granted its requested opening hours at the Wye Bridge House in Buxton, despite objections from all 28 members of the Pubwatch. The pub will be allowed to open from 9am to 12.30am from Monday to Thursdays and until 1am at weekends. The Pubwatch, which caused a storm by excluding JDW earlier in the year because of its pricewatch posters, has been urged to review its decision by the council.

Off-trade plans worry magistrates

The Magistrates Association has expressed its concerns that supermarkets and petrol stations planning to sell alcohol 24-hours a day could worsen alcohol-fuelled crime. The Association, which represents 30,000 magistrates, said it feared that retailers in small convenience stores and petrol stations would not be strong enough to turn away gangs of drunken yobs late at night.

Police concern at festival drinking

North Wales police have warned that they may have to ban alcohol from the Faenol music festival in order to halt under-age drinking. Police reported children as young as 14 were found drunk at the festival last year and said the ultimate sanction would be banning alcohol altogether.

NDD founder Bob Middleton dies

National Drinks Distributor founding member Bob Middleton died on 18 August after battling cancer.Middleton also held the position of chairman of the National Association of Licensed Trade Wholesalers. National Drinks Distributor chief executive Steve Graham said: 'Bob was a larger-than-life character and will be greatly missed by his friends and colleagues within, not just NDD, but the whole licensed trade.