A PUB could see its hours extended and build a new outdoor bar – but objectors fear it could lead to anti-social behaviour.

Punch Partnerships Limited has submitted to Bucks Council an application to vary the premises licence for The Eagle on Amersham High Street.

The proposal:

Opening hours

  • Extended by half-an-hour Friday to Saturday to 00.30am.

Live music and entertainment

  • An additional hour on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for each May Bank Holiday, Spring/Whitsun Bank Holiday, August Bank Holiday, Easter Bank Holiday, Christmas Eve and Boxing Day – and extended hours on New Year’s Eve.

Late night refreshment

  • As above (plus on Monday for each May Bank Holiday, and on Thursday before Good Friday).

Sale of alcohol

  • Additional 30 minutes (until midnight) on Friday and Saturday – and removal of restrictions on Christmas Day.

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The applicant has also proposed “general refurbishment” and layout changes including extra seating, new screens, a food counter, and creation of an outdoor bar in the rear garden.

“We are seeking this in order to take the pressure off the main bar servery inside the premises at peak trading times, to facilitate social distancing, and to create a better customer experience,” a document states.

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The pub is close to residential properties and backs up to a recreational space called Barn Meadow.

Five objections were received during a 28-day consultation outlining “significant concerns” over the potential for “increased noise disturbance”.

Objectors also anticipate increased anti-social behaviour they claim is already being experienced within current operating hours, including ‘public urination and littering’.

Bucks Free Press:

The Swan opposite

“It is totally unnecessary as their present opening hours are more than adequate – it is a quiet residential part of Old Amersham and already suffers from noise at closing time as there is another public house, The Swan opposite. Men come out of the pubs and urinate against my house already; this elongated opening time would only make this worse with more drunk people. The character and fabric of the neighbouring listed buildings would be spoilt by this,” wrote objector, David.

A licensing committee retired to consider a January 6 hearing and will contact interested parties directly with its decision.

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