The fate of a bid by Colchester's "most violent" pub to stay open later at night will be decided by councillors this week.

Members of Colchester Council's licensing committee are due to rule tomorrow whether the Wig and Pen can shut at midnight on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays and at 1am on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Manager Ray Martin withdrew an earlier bid for the extension in July, after police revealed they were called to more incidents at the High Street watering hole in the last financial year than at any other pub in town.

Officers have objected to the latest application as well, claiming the move "is likely to lead to a potential increase in public crime and disorder".

Ward councillor Henry Spyvee has also protested, on the grounds that later opening at the pub would "detrimentally affect the ambience of the town centre".

But Mr Martin told the Gazette the Wig and Pen was being unfairly blamed for Colchester's culture of boozy violence.

He said on a recent night out with staff to compare prices, he was "shocked" to discover how much drink could be bought for £20 in bars offering money-off deals.

"If somebody drinks Becks and it's £1 a bottle, he could neck 20 bottles during the course of the night," he said.

"We don't do these kind of offers, but we are the last stop en route to the Hippodrome and we have to call the police when people turn up drunk and get violent."

Published Wednesday, September 8, 2004

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