Last updated 06:16, Friday, 02 May 2008

A BASSENTHWAITE hotel can serve alcohol until 2am, Allerdale council has ruled this week.

A BASSENTHWAITE hotel can serve alcohol until 2am, Allerdale council has ruled this week.

Despite complaints from neighbours about possible anti-social behaviour arising from the late drinking, the council’s licensing panel approved the application at a meeting on Tuesday.

The Castle Inn Hotel has had variations put in place on its licence, with the exception of Lakers bar, which has been granted a licence until 1am.

The use of outside seating will be restricted to midnight and conditions have been imposed on the licence for live entertainment .

All windows and doors must be kept shut at all times and notices put up requesting that all patrons leave quietly.

Recommendations put forward which are not part of the contract include encouraging people to use parking sites and exits furthest away from local residents so as to create as little disturbance as possible.

Brian Crewes, general manager of the Castle Inn said: “We are very pleased to have secured this late licence and I think we are just keeping up with a changing world.

“Since the change in the licensing laws people begin to drink later on so we are just trying to accommodate everybody.

“The live entertainment will only be used for occasions such as weddings and charity events and so when we use it, it will not be every night.”

The hotel has also received planning permission to build an extra car park, close to the entrance to its function room, to cope with any extra guests or non-residents of the hotel who wish to drink in Lakers bar.