The time bell could be rung at an Alton pub well into the early hours if licensing changes are approved by an EHDC committee next week.

The owners of the White Horse have asked East Hampshire District Council for permission to sell alcohol up to 2am on Fridays and Saturday, and to midnight on other days of the week, from their indoor and outdoor bar.

They also want part of a condition removed which limits entertainment to midnight on Friday and Saturdays and 11pm all other evenings.

If their request is granted by the EHDC Licensing Committee, then the airing of live and recorded music will be permitted at the High Street pub until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, and up to midnight on other evenings.

And to allow customers to drink up after ringing the bell for last orders, the applicants want the pub to close at 2.30am on Fridays and Saturdays, and half past midnight on other nights.

The application by the Craft Union Pub Company Ltd, which comes nearly a year after a makeover, will be determined next Friday (Jun 27) at a committee meeting at the EHDC offices in Petersfield.

But there is opposition with Alton Town Council lodging an objection, as they feel that 2.30am is “far too late” to be open given there is housing nearby.

They would support an application to extend opening hours to 1am on Saturdays, as they feel licensing hours should be consistent throughout the town.

The council stated: “Were this establishment to be granted a licence until 2.30am it would set a precedent and enable to other premises to extend their hours to this time as well.

“Extended drinking in the town centre is likely to increase anti-social behaviour, in particular noise when people are leaving the establishment.”