Neighbours upset as pub aims to open longer hours
A NEW micropub in Derby could soon have its opening hours extended – but worried neighbours have hit raised a petition fearing the plans will disrupt their lives.
The owners of The Hoptimist in Spondon have applied to Derby City Council for longer hours which could see them open for an extra 25 hours each week.
The Sitwell Street venue opened in December last year, replacing the former Spondon Hardware store which closed after 10 years in 2019 following the death of one of its owners. Members of Derby City Council’s general sub-licensing committee will meet on Thursday to discuss the application to vary the pub’s premises licence.
The pub’s current opening times are Monday to Thursday, 2pm to 10pm; Friday and Saturday, 2pm to 11pm and Sunday 12pm to 8pm. It is proposed that the pub’s new opening times will be Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 12.30am, and Sunday, 12pm to 10.30pm. The selling of alcohol will finish at 12am Monday to Saturday and 10pm on a Sunday.
For a premises licence application or variation to an existing licence to be accepted, councillors must be satisfied that the new licence will not increase crime and disorder, risk public safety or put children at risk of harm. In the application, The Hoptimist’s owners state: “By still limiting the opening hours, the premises will still appeal to a particular clientele who are wanting to enjoy a nice quiet drink possibly before a meal or to enjoy a quiet conversation with family and friends. We are now established within the village community, as are the high standards that we maintain constantly, thereby ensuring that our patrons will enjoy a safe drinking environment.”
However, neighbours have objected to the plans by writing to Derby City Council. A petition has also been launched and sent to the council showing a list of what appears to be around 20 names which have been blacked out for data protection reasons. One of the letters published ahead of Thursday’s meeting states that residents fear they will lose sleep and suffer from mental health problems should the pub be allowed to open later at night.
It says: “Since The Hoptimist opened last year we have suffered with having to listen to loud conversations, drunkenness, foul language, music, having to sleep with our windows shut due to the loud noise and many early deliveries of stock. We feel this will cause us even more disturbance than we are already struggling to cope with.”
Another protester has written to the council saying: “The current tenants have happily lived here for several years. The tenants have told me that the current licensing hours do cause some disturbance due to noise levels. Granting of this variation to their current licence will obviously intrude into normal family life for several families.”
The Hoptimist has been approached for comment.