Pub aims for 5am opening boost

A pub which tried to beat the downturn by opening for breakfast has asked for permission to open until 5am whenever bosses choose.

Licensing chiefs are being asked to consider the request by The Dudley Port in Tipton.

The pub, in a road also called Dudley Port, now has to close at half past midnight every day. It can serve until 11pm. It comes a year after former pub worker Tracey Jones started a breakfast bar to let workers fill up for the day. She offered traditional English fare such as full breakfasts and toasties.

Staff at the pub today said that scheme had been scrapped within weeks due to a lack of custom.

Having failed to corner the early morning market they are now looking to bring in very late-night trade.

Owner Bill Singh, aged 47, took over 20 months ago and said that trade has been steadily dwindling.

He said: "We are never full, especially in the week. Pubs just can't compete with supermarket prices.

"We won't be open until 5am every night but we need to be able to do that if we are showing boxing matches on satellite television.

He said the days of people going to pubs just for drinks were numbered and that customers needed new reasons to go out.

"The breakfasts didn't take off and we did not keep that going for very long at all," Mr Singh said.

Licensing officer Malcolm Strong said concerns had been raised about noise control and air pollution.

Councillor Ian Jones said Local residents had a right to a trouble- free sleep.