A new bar in the heart of a Herefordshire town plans to stay open till late and even to offer karaoke nights.

Alwyn Weaver gained partly retrospective permission last month to convert the grade II listed 43 High Street, Bromyard, including half of the first floor, to the new, as-yet unnamed bar, while retaining a flat within the building.

He has now applied for a premises licence, seeking permission to serve alcohol and food, and play live music including karaoke, until 1am six days a week, and until midnight on Sundays.

The bar will be next door to the 16th-century King’s Arms, which also runs karaoke nights.

RELATED NEWS:

The licence bid appears to conflict with undertakings by Mr Weaver’s agent made during the planning consultation, which included limiting opening hours to 11pm.

“There will be no commercial cooking on site , except for hot drinks . Food will be bought in from a local supplier,” the agent’s letter also said at the time.

Though next to residential accommodation, the first floor bar space “will be in the form of large sofas and is unlikely to be noisy”, while a “small” outdoor area for customers “would not present a nuisance to any neighbours”, it added.

OTHER NEWS:

“No amplified music will be played. No ‘events’ will be held.”

The undertakings on opening hours and food preparation then formed conditions of the planning permission, which also limited the hours the bar could play music to between 1 and 8pm.

Mr Weaver declined to comment on his licensing application.

Submissions on this can be made via the Herefordshire Council licensing webpage until October 13.