Brewer fights for right to extend village pub’s opening hours

Mar 5 2008 by Aaron Boland, Liverpool Daily Post

ONE of Britain’s top breweries and owner of a Wirral pub goes to the High Court in London next week in a groundbreaking challenge over opening hours.

Daniel Thwaites Brewery won the right to a judicial review into a decision by Wirral magistrates to cut a Saughall Massie pub’s opening hours to midnight.

The Saughall Hotel applied for a 2am licence after the Government introduced new licensing laws in 2005.

The pub was initially granted a licence by Wirral Council to remain open until 1am on Friday and Saturday.

But following an appeal to magistrates by the Saughall Massie Village Conservation Society this was cut to midnight.

David Kirwan, an independent councillor and senior partner at Kirwans Solicitors, who represents the villagers, said: “This was a groundbreaking case in 2006 and we believe it is a first in terms of a judicial review into a magistrate’s ruling on opening hours.

“The society’s victory two years ago was a triumph for the little man.

“Saughall Massie is a small, picturesque village and residents were quite rightly concerned about the noise pollution the extended hours would bring to the area.

“Next week’s hearing in London will be hugely important for giving guidance to local authorities, courts, the police and brewers in future cases of this nature.”

The hearing in London next Monday will be attended by villagers.