A CONTROVERSIAL nightclub has been forced to cut its opening hours following allegations of drunken violence and under-age drinking.

Longs Bar in Lymington has been told to close at 12.30am instead of 2am after what police described as a “catalogue” of complaints about drunkenness and anti-social behaviour in the early hours.

The decision is a major blow to the High Street business, which describes itself as Lymington’s only late-night party venue.

However, a police report to the district council’s licensing sub-committee said customers were allowed to drink “excessive” amounts.

After retiring for one-and-a-half hours the sub-committee said it had “seriously considered” stripping the bar of its licence.

The chairman, Cllr Goff Beck, who is also the council’s cabinet member for crime and disorder, said: “Longs has served people who are intoxicated and has not kept adequate records where people have been refused entry or refused alcohol.”

But the bar was allowed to stay open, subject to a long list of conditions relating to opening hours, staff training and CCTV coverage.

Peter Savill QC, representing the police, told the six-hour meeting: “Licensing objectives have been seriously undermined to the detriment of those living and working in Lymington.

“A depressingly regular feature of the police evidence is the level of drunkenness by customers, both inside and outside the premises, which officers have to deal with time after time.”

However, Longs challenged many of the allegations made by the police.

Members of staff complained that the bar was being blamed for problems caused by people who had been to other venues in the town.

Kevin Brook, the premises’ licence holder, told the hearing: “I felt flabbergasted and insulted that everything in the police papers was aimed at Longs.”

Paul Jones QC, representing the bar, stressed that no prosecutions had arisen from alleged breaches of licensing laws.

In a written statement to the sub-committee bar manager Michelle Race said: “If we feel someone’s had too much to drink we offer them water and make the other members of staff aware not to serve them alcohol.

“If anyone looks under-age we always ask for their ID.

“We run a tight ship.”