THE owners of a pub in Alton are challenging councillors to sit outside the town's pubs on a Saturday night and decide for themselves which are best run.

Mandy and Gavin Mackrell say their pub, The Hop Poles, in Mount Pleasant Road, is suffering and they are feeling victimised.

It follows a ruling by East Hampshire District Council's licensing sub-committee which insists they become the only pub in town forced to have CCTV and employ doormen.

Having owned the pub for the past two-and-a-half years, the couple say they have invested more than £90,000 in bringing the pub up to scratch by refurbishing the Grade II Listed building, decorating and tidying up the outside, modernising its interior, improving the garden, installing seven 3D televisions, and introducing a bed and breakfast element.

Describing it as a "family pub" with a friendly atmosphere, where people of all ages mix and watch football, Mr Mackrell believes The Hop Poles is the "busiest and best pub" in Alton.

Yet he feels unfairly hounded by residents, the police and the authorities for noise and rowdiness which, he says, is not generated by his pub.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.