Greene King in costs battle

Greene King is taking four residents to the High Court

to retrieve costs in a bid to protect community pubs across the country.

The Suffolk brewer wants a "small contribution" to its costs "on a point of principle" after they appealed to magistrates about the council's decision to allow the Dog & Partridge in Bury St Edmunds to open later.

Following residents' objections, Greene King made "considerable concessions," including abandoning live music and agreeing not to allow people into the pub after 11pm. The venue was granted an extra hour's trading on Fridays and Saturdays.

Led by Simon Harding, the residents asked magistrates to insert new conditions such as CCTV, doorstaff and use of plastic glasses.

Harding has been involved in several campaigns against Greene King, including protests about brewery expansion plans and an access road. The magistrates sided with Greene King but turned down an application for costs.

Greene King Pub Company managing director Mark Angela said the case set a "dangerous legal precedent" for the industry as a whole.

"How can someone come back four months after an open hearing and ask for new conditions when there have been no problems at a pub?" Angela asked. "It undermines the whole process and puts community pubs at risk, some of which do not have our resources to fight the case."

He added: "We won't pursue full costs of £29,000 and are challenging the magistrates' decision not to award costs. Basically they said there would be no costs, because we could afford it.

"The important thing is to win. The costs will be more of a token gesture."