Pubs reject chance to stay open all hours

Pubs and bars across London are rejecting the opportunity to open 24-hours-a-day.

From this week they can apply to extend their opening hours under the controversial Licensing Act.

But Evening Standard research shows that only a tiny handful intend to open later - and then only by an hour or two.

The findings - from research in areas known for their bar culture - pour cold water on widespread fears that the new rules will mean venues open all night and an increase in binge drinking and yobbi sh behaviour as a consequence.

Eighty per cent of pubs and bars we visited in Putney and Hoxton said they had no plans to open later than usual.

Managers said it would be too expensive to pay staff overtime - even if they could persuade them to work into "I think the whole idea will never work," said Jools Easty, manager of The Barley Mow in Hoxton.

"Some people like going on benders, and extending the licensing laws would create more trouble than it's worth. We'd have to up our security, we'd have to pay more to people for working late and we'd have to deal with punters who were more aggressive than usual."

Her views were echoed in Putney where one publican said: "I don't think English people know how to drink.

"We are paying the minimum wage and I don't expect people to work till

2am, dealing with idiots on ?4.85 an hour."

M a t t h e w McKenna, of Bar M by the river at Putney is one of the few managers who plan to open later.

" We will apply to open till 1am but only use it Thursday to Saturday," he explained.

" It wou ld generate more income and bring something-to Putney. We'd like to stay open until 12 or 1am," said Matthew Coleman, manager of The Old Blue Last in Hoxton.

"We have live music occasionally and it's really embarrassing having to tell people to leave immediately the band has finished."