THE LANDLORD of a Dorchester pub has welcomed a decision to allow it to extend its opening hours.

The Junction Hotel, in Great Western Road, submitted an application to West Dorset District Council to extend its licensing hours.

The application included extending the sale of alcohol from 1am to 3am on Friday and Saturday nights as well as bringing it forward from 11am to 10am on Mondays to Thursdays and to 9am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The matter was considered by the councils licensing sub committee after comments were submitted by a handful of local residents objecting to the increased hours.

The committee agreed to grant the application, subject to a number of conditions put forward by Dorset Police's licensing officer - which the pub had already indicated it would be willing to adhere to.

They included keeping an incident report register and installing CCTV that will be available for police to inspect on request.

Following the committee's decision The Junction's landlord Albert Stratford welcomed the outcome.

He said that the initial reasoning for the application was to bring forward opening in the morning so the pub can start serving breakfasts.

Mr Stratford added that in terms of the late licence it would enable them to open later for functions and other events and, especially on Fridays, it would not necessarily be open till 3am every weekend.

He said that on Saturdays other nights when the venue was open till 3am he and his team will do their utmost to ensure noise is kept to a minimum and the impact on neighbours is limited.

Mr Stratford said: “We will be very conscientious of upsetting any neighbours and conscious of any noise issues.”

While there will be a disco some Saturday nights, the pub's recent refurbishment has also seen a lounge area created along the Trinity Street side, which Mr Stratford said would remain a quiet space for people to come and have a drink.

He added that there were other venues in the town that stayed open late and The Junction would not become a focal point for drunken behaviour.

Mr Stratford said that the pub had a good reputation and he would work hard to ensure the late night opening does not see anything done to affect that.

He said: “We will work with the community and monitor it on a regular basis.”