A HAMPSHIRE pub has been given the go-ahead to extend its trading hours despite initial police concern of more problems in the town centre.

The Litten Tree pub, in Eastleigh, wanted to serve drinks an hour later on Friday and Saturday nights and allow in customers up to an hour before.

Police lodged an objection fearing this could mean more people gathering in the area, increasing the likelihood of incidents.

However the force withdrew its objections at the 11th hour after the pub agreed to its requests.

Under its new application the High Street venue wanted to sell alcohol until 3am the following day and close its doors at 3.30am on Friday and Saturday – an hour-and-a-half later than at present.

The pub also wanted to open three hours earlier from 7am to serve breakfast.

A report from Hampshire Police said parts of the pub’s plans would have too great an impact on nuisance and crime and disorder in the town centre. It also feared services like the street pastors and council CCTVmonitoring might not be on hand beyond 2am to help the venue.

Officers were concerned that the 3am last entry time would attract people from other venues that close earlier and wanted it moved to an hour earlier.

“Changing the dynamics of the late night economy so that only one premises remains open after 2am accepting customers up to that point, is likely to, on the balance of probabilities, draw people towards the town centre, and allow an opportunity for these customers to loiter in the area before making their way to The Litten Tree,” the report said.

The police report said revellers arriving at the venue would inevitably be more intoxicated and door staff would have to be strict about who was let in and monitor customers closely.

Police reported how in January this year the licensee was punched in the head when he tried to intervene in an argument, then there was a report in March that a woman ejected from the venue assaulted two door staff.

Later that month, an officer on foot patrol reported that a woman had to be carried out of the Litten Tree pub by door staff as she was too drunk to walk and barely able to talk.

On another occasion in April police reported hearing staff ejecting a man say “he fell asleep inside” and then saw the man swaying from side to side and falling into shop shutters.

However, after negotiation, the pub has agreed to close at 3am not 3.30am.