A Wetherspoons pub is asking to open an hour earlier every day after what is says is strong customer demand.
The Dolphin and Anchor in West Street, Chichester, also wants to extend its Thursday opening hours by 30 minutes to 2am – to match Friday and Saturday opening hours.
It says if it gets planning permission for the change, it will apply for a licence to match, and the city’s licensing department have confirmed their support.
Its planning application, submitted to Chichester City Council, says: “The Dolphin and Anchor Free House is a well-established and popular public house and this application is a response by J D Wetherspoon to customer requests.
“It should be noted that Wetherspoon would be willing to accept an extension of the operating hours on site for a temporary period if this was considered prudent by Officers in order to allow the effect of the proposal to be assessed over a 12 month period.
“The application is in response to strong customer demand and as such it is asserted that a need for the proposal exists.”
The Chichester Society is calling for a restriction stopping alcohol being served until 9am.
The society’s Andrew Bain said: “We object to the extension to Thursday opening hours as this would cause harm to the character of this part of the Conservation Area by adding a third night of late cessation of business every week.
“We would think that there could be an increased congestion of breakfast parking coinciding with Prebendal School morning drop off.”
