Fears that Tenby and surrounding area could become a 'giant nightclub' seem to have eased this week.
As previously reported, the concerns surround the recent spate of late-night drinks applications submitted by several public houses in the area as part of new licensing legislation.
However, during the past week or so, Pembrokeshire County Council have started the arduous task of determining the applications, and following a number of decisions, it now seems that a state of compromise is being reached.
For example, up until now, Tenby's Sun Inn had a justices licence which allowed the licensee to sell alcohol between 11 am and 11 pm Monday to Saturday and 12 noon to 10.30 pm on Sundays. However, under the new law, Punch Taverns applied to supply alcohol from 11 am to 2 am Monday to Saturday and 12 noon to 2 am on Sundays. They also sought to have music and dancing to 2 am and wished their premises to be open to 2.30 am all week.
But when the application came before the county council's licensing sub-committee on Friday, although members agreed to extend the opening hours of the High Street establishment, they are not for as long as requested.
The new hours will be Sunday to Thursday, 11 am to 12.30 pm, plus 30 minutes drinking up time, and Friday and Saturday, 11 am to 1 am, plus 30 minutes drinking up time.
Meanwhile, further compromise was reached on Monday in respect of an application at the Amroth Arms, Amroth, where the opening hours agreed are Monday to Thursday, 10 am to 12 pm, plus 30 minutes drinking up, Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 12.30 am, plus 30 minutes, and Sundays 7 am to 12.30 am, plus 30 minutes. In the summer period (July/August), the hours will be 10 am to 12.30 am, plus 30 minutes.
Another local application in respect of The Crown Inn, Lower Frog Street, Tenby was adjourned, however.
More council deliberations continued on Wednesday, when an application for a variation of hours at the Lifeboat Tavern, Tenby, was referred back to officers following agreement on the hours open to the public.
These were agreed as Sunday to Thursday, 9 am to 12 midnight, plus 30 minutes drink up time, Friday and Saturday, 9 am to 1 am, plus 30 minutes, Bank Holiday weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), 9 am to 1.30 am, plus 30 minutes.
Proposals by the Paddock Inn, Penally, were also referred back to officers after the applicants withdrew their application for Part B 'variation'. Three more applications in respect of local premises are due to be considered today (Friday). These are for the Three Mariners Inn, Tenby, the Temple Bar, Amroth, and the Wanderers Rest, Llanteg.