Last updated 19:53, Thursday, 04 September 2008

A PORTINSCALE hotel has had its licence extended.

Despite objections by nearby residents, the Derwentwater Hotel was granted the extension by an Allerdale council licensing panel on Tuesday.

It means it can serve alcohol until 11.30pm Monday to Friday and midnight on a Saturday night and 1am on New Year’s Eve.

But the hotel, owned by Shearings, cannot play amplified music from a PA system.

Steve Boricic, director of Shearings Hotels Limited, who was at the panel hearing, said: “I’m ecstatic about the result and pleased that the council can see that our terms for the extension are within reasonable guidelines.”

Shearings applied in May for the hotel’s entertainment and alcohol licence to be extended until 1am Monday to Sunday.

But neighbouring residents were concerned that the original application for later hours on live music, recorded music and dancing facilities exceeded sociable hours.

Dr Wilson, of Harney Peake, said: “Our quality of life will be severely affected if this licence is granted both by the sound of the music and then by people leaving the hotel in their cars in the early hours.”

Graham Hardman, of Harney Peake, added: “We do not want to be killjoys but some restrictions are absolutely necessary if the atmosphere of Portinscale is not to be changed to the detriment of the majority of visitors and residents.”

Environmental health officers who checked the premises were also concerned that the structure of the building and the glass conservatory would cause music to travel to nearby houses.

Trevor Gear, legal executive for the council, said: “Regular noise control measures will have to be implemented to ensure the surrounding residents are not affected.”

The hotel said the entertainment that the Derwentwater provides is strictly for the over-50s market and that the new licence will continue this theme.

Steve added: “We provide entertainment in the form of a piano player and a lounge singer. I think people feared the hotel was going to turn into some kind of rave but this is really not the case.”

The council added that since Shearings had taken over the management at the Derwentwater Hotel there had been no complaints about noise or any anti-social behaviour.