ONE of Falmouth’s oldest and most historic pubs wants to extend its opening hours to 2.30am on three days a week.

However, the town council is not happy and believes it will exacerbate late night noise and antisocial behaviour.

The Craft Union Pub Company has asked Cornwall Council for a variation of the premises licence for The Grapes Inn on Falmouth’s Church Street.

The pub wants to change the time it stops selling alcohol from 1am to 2am on Thursdays to Saturdays, with live and recorded music increased to the same time and opening hours extended on those days from 1.30am to 2.30am.

Devon and Cornwall Police and other public bodies have no objections. However, Falmouth Town Council does.

It has recommend refusal as councillors believe the change in licensing hours is against existing policy and would have an impact on the Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) and affect the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and prevention of public nuisance.

A CIZ is an area where there is evidence to show that the number or density of licensed premises may be contributing to problems that are undermining licensing objectives.

Councillors were concerned that there would be an accumulation and exacerbation of late night noise and antisocial behaviour in Church Street car park, which is behind the pub, and a general disturbance to residents due to the noise of those leaving the town centre later at night.

The Grapes was founded in the 1700s and was traditionally been the destination of choice for the seafarers, merchants and Navy ratings whose ships were docked in Falmouth’s harbour.

The application will be discussed by a Cornwall Council licensing committee on Wednesday, April 2.