A PUB and nightspot in Worcester city centre has been given licence to stay open until 5am every morning, despite objections from nearby residents.

The Swan with Two Nicks on New Street – which also encompasses Drummonds and the Lunar bar – was given permission to extend its opening hours by Worcester City Council after it was revealed they had received no noise complaints for several years.

Permission was also granted for pub customers to use its outdoor patio area until 5am each morning – rather than the current midnight restriction – after its owners described how people are currently forced to stand out in the street and smoke late at night, leaving their drinks unattended inside. The council had received two objections to the change of licence from neighbours of the pub, one of whom wrote a three-page diatribe attacking the venue for causing noise and bad behaviour.

Len Cale, of Cornmarket Court, described the pub as “a monster” which made sleep at the weekends “virtually impossible”, offering a long list of noise incidents he claimed “clearly demonstrates a contempt for those living nearby”.

He went on to complain at some length about the “disgusting” drunken behaviour of people in New Street late at night. But furious licensee Lucinda Griffin hit back, telling the sub-committee Mr Cale had never raised any such issues with her.

“I’ve been a landlord here for almost 30 years, and we’ve always done our best to be a good neighbour.” she said.

“That couple has lived there for 10 months and do not know me. I take great exception to being described as a monster who’s only interested in money.”

Mrs Griffin explained how any “reasonable” concerns from police or neighbours were always dealt with immediately.

She said the pub was paying for better sound-proofing for a second neighbour who had objected to the extension of hours, and had agreed to a police request that a supervisor be put on the door from Wednesday to Sunday.

“It’s funny how not one other person living in all the flats nearby has complained,” she said. “These people seem to hold us responsible for every woe that comes with living in a city centre.”

Mrs Griffin added that a sound restrictor has been fitted to the pub’s sound system, and agreed to licence restrictions that live music would not be played after midnight, that no music would be played outside at any time, and that children could only enter the venue between 9am and 9pm.