NEIGHBOURS are hoping to scupper a popular pub’s bid to extend the hours it can play music and serve alcohol in its garden.

The Bread and Cheese pub, in London Road, Benfleet, has applied to extend the hours it can play live, or recorded, music and sell booze in the garden to 11pm from 6pm.

The popular pub is hoping to capitalise on recent successes - including being named Echo Pub of the Year.

But residents in nearby roads have raised concerns that extended garden hours could lead to an increase in noise late in the evening.

The pub has stated it is willing to speak to and work with residents who have concerns.

One resident, who asked not to be named due to their close proximity to the pub, said: “I understand the pub wants to boost its offering, and it is successful and busy so I get why they want these licence changes.

“But there is a residential road opposite, and there are homes built on the land behind the pub.

“It is hardly ideal to have a pub playing live music in the garden until 11pm, it will definitely affect us residents.

“I like the pub, but I can see it now, live music blarring out, scores of people drinking in the garden, laughing, joking, not doing anything wrong, but there will be extra noise and its not fair on everyone living so c lose.”

A spokesman for the pub said: “We are a family-run pub whose business depends upon the valued support of our community.

“We are tremendously proud of recently winning the Echo Pub of the Year award and we are grateful for local residents supporting this achievement.

“To us, this proves our hard work has been recognised in trying to provide a welcoming and enjoyable environment for all of the community.

“We have applied for a variation of our licence to fulfil the expectations of our customers and locals.

“While we understand that a small number of residents have expressed concerns to the council about the effects of changes to our licence, we welcome the opportunity to work directly alongside them in order to resolve these matters.”

A licensing hearing will take place this morning during which Castle Point Council bosses will asses the proposals and decide whether to accept them or deny them. The pub has a right to appeal if required.