THE Hop Poles in Alton has had its opening hours cut by an hour-and-a-half each night after Hampshire Police applied to review the premises’ licence.

The police stated their reasons under licensing objectives focusing on the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance.

In a meeting of East Hampshire District Council’s (EHDC) licensing sub-committee, held in Petersfield on July 14, members heard that the Mount Pleasant Road premises has a chequered history of complaints from residents dating back to June 2010, relating to noise, crime and disorder, and that these complaints have continued.

Some people have been advised by police to keep a diary, documenting incidents, which reveal a catalogue of disturbance over the past four years, including shouting, swearing, singing, chanting and rowdy behaviour, often emanating from the beer garden late at night and early in the morning, but also from patrons leaving the premises.

Residents talked of having to leave their homes in order to get a “good night’s sleep” so they could be rested in time for work the following day.

Over the years attempts have been made by both the licensing authority (EHDC) and the police to encourage The Hop Poles to meet the objectives of the Licensing Act 2003 which embrace prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance, and protection of children from harm.

Conditions have been imposed around the use of the pub’s outdoor space and provision of Security Industry Authority-registered door staff, but these do not always appear to have worked in the prevention of nuisance, noise and crime and disorder.

Concerned residents have cited “disturbances when the pub closes at 1.30am, with drunken shouting being the norm at weekends”, that for the last four years “we have had our sleep disturbed at least 69 per cent of the weekends when we have been at home”, “we are woken or kept awake by singing, shouting and foul language”, and “we are regularly disturbed by noise coming from the pub garden late at night or early in the morning and from patrons leaving the premises”.

A police report highlighted the fact that in the past 12 months there had been 11 reports to the police of anti-social behaviour from nearby residents, and that “incidents of anti-social behaviour appear to be common place” with this venue.

The report points out that The Hop Poles has a late licence, opening until 1.30am for entertainment and refreshment, with the supply of alcohol until 1am seven days per week, providing 30 minutes drinking-up time.

As such, the pub has become the “end destination” within the town, attracting drinkers who have visited other licensed premises in the area and who often arrive at The Hop Poles drunk.

This situation can lead to problems. An incident was highlighted when, on April 19 this year, a female at the venue was glassed. In her statement, the woman had described herself as “very drunk” to the point where she could still walk but “couldn’t really talk”.

This incident is currently under investigation.

According to the police, although a Security Industry Authority doorman was on duty, the incident had been managed badly. The incident, police believe, could have been avoided if the venue had acted responsibly and diligently.

The people involved should not have been allowed to enter the premises, due to their level of intoxication, and security staff should have intervened at the verbal altercation stage and ejected those involved.

It was noted that closing time at the neighbouring pub, The George, is only one hour earlier than The Hop Poles and yet it has no reported incidents recorded or attributed to the venue within the last 13 months.

The Hop Poles, on the other hand, had several incidents between August 2014 and April 2015, including 11 anti-social behaviour incidents, all after midnight, three assaults and one incident of theft.

The report concluded: “The chief officer of police is of the opinion and belief that the current management of the venue are incapable of promoting the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and of the prevention of public nuiscance.”

In mitigation, the hearing heard that while premises licence holder Amanda Mackrell had been the designated premises supervisor since March 1, 2010, that responsibility had recently been handed over to staff member Leanne Fox.

Having heard representations from all parties, the committee voted to reduce the hours at The Hop Poles so that last entry is 11pm with last orders at 11.30pm and closure at midnight.

The pub now has 21 days to appeal to the magistrates court, but if it decides not to do so, the new licensing hours will come into effect from August 4.