Residents force pub to cut extended hours

A pub which has been trading its extended hours responsibly has been forced to close earlier because residents complained it might cause a late-night disturbance.​ Thwaites-managed pub the Saughall Hotel in Saughall Massie on Merseyside had been granted extended hours to midnight from Sunday to Thursday and until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.

But magistrates cut the hours to 11.30pm from Sunday to Thursday and midnight at weekends following a case brought by local residents.

The Saughall Massie Conservation Society brought the case because they feared the new hours would lead to disorder and excessive noise.

This was despite the fact the police, local authority and pub company had received no complaints about the premises - and despite reassurances issued from the government at the time of the Licensing Act that pubs would not be penalised unless they created problems.

Paul Howarth, retail director at Thwaites, said: "We have operated within those hours since November 24 and have operated to the satisfaction of police, environmental health officers and had no complaints from local residents or the local authority.

"The decision is not based on evidence but on the potential migration of people from other areas."

However, the solicitor representing the group of local residents has claimed a landmark case.

David Kirwan, senior partner of Kirwans Solicitors, said: "It is a victory for the little man, a victory for the residents of Saughall Massie and, ultimately, the consumer. It is giving power back to the people.

"This case is the first of its kind for Merseyside and it casts doubt on the ability of the council and the police to manage the new licensing laws alone."