Black Country pub wants to keep serving until 2am

The Brunswick in Crankhall Lane, Wednesbury, would continue to serve alcohol until 2am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and shut half an hour later if the request is accepted by councillors.

The pub's current licence only allows it to serve punters until midnight, before shutting its doors at 12.30am, and bosses say they are losing out on valuable trade as customers head off to rival venues to continue drinking.

But residents living near the pub have raised concerns over loud music and the potential for rowdy behaviour outside their homes in the small hours.

At least two objections have been submitted to Sandwell Council, which was due to make a decision yesterday.

Amanda Oakley, aged 41, who lives a few doors down from the Brunswick on Crankhall Lane, said he was worried about the prospect of alcohol-fuelled violence.

She said: "There was a fight outside two weeks ago, we saw some fellas in the middle of the road scrapping.

"The longer it is open the more people are going to drink and the more trouble we are going to have. We don't want that, I've got kids.

"There are a lot more cars outside the front now and they speed up the road."

Brunswick landlord Steve Dodd said: "We do need longer hours. Every other pub has longer hours than this one.

"If people know we close earlier than others they do a runner before time. If they are getting thrown out at 12 o'clock they move on.

"People tend to drift. People come out later now than they used to."

Wednesbury councillor Elaine Costigan said she could understand residents' concerns.

She said: "We want pubs to do well but we have got to think of the residents as well."

Dave Pawson, spokesman for Punch Taverns, which runs the pub and submitted the application, said: "The increase in hours has both a commercial benefit in increasing the trading opportunity whilst also allowing a more staggered exit of customers once any entertainment has finished."