23 hour drinking in downtown Bury

Been looking at the licence applications for town centre pubs, clubs and off-licences. There's been so much talk in the media recently about '24 hour drinking' when the Licensing Act 2003 kicks in in November, but the reality for Bury appears a little more mundane. Of the premises applying for a variation to existing arrangements, and whose application is awaiting decision, most of the pubs are going for 11, 11.30 or midnight closing Monday to Thursday and Sunday, with 12.30 or 1am closing on Fridays and Saturdays. Some examples: The Dog and Partridge has applied for 11pm Mon-Thurs and Sun, and midnight on Fri/Sat - which seems pretty modest despite residents (in Hatter Street, bizarrely - not particularly near the D&P) complaining. The Mason's Arms has gone for 11.30 every night except midnight on Fri/Sat. Similarly, the Old Cannon Brewery application is for 11 on the quiet nights, and midnight on Fri/Sat.

The smallest pub in the world, or is it just in England, The Nutshell (pictured here during the day, when it's mostly frequented by abstemious tourists), has applied for midnight every night except Fri/Sat, when it wants to close at 1am. That'll please the eight punters crammed in there at the time then. The same hours have been requested by The Rose and Crown, The Fox, and The Tollgate. The Linden Tree is similar but they have asked to close a bit earlier on Fri/Sat, at 12.30. The Ipswich Arms has requested 11.30 most nights and 12.30 on Fri/Sat, and the King's Arms midnight every night.

The Grapes has the latest hours - 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays. Some pubs have already had their licences granted, and the council has removed details from the website. These include The Bushel, Benson Blakes and The Black Boy; don't know what they have been allowed.

What of the big, young-crowd pubs like the Queen's Head (below) and Ye Olde One Bull? They don't appear to have submitted applications to vary their hours yet. The Queens Head has applied for a conversion of its exiting licence (and hours), but according to the council's public register Ye Olde One Bull hasn't, which means it won't automatically be granted the same opening hours and conditions it enjoys now. It probably also means that, should they request vaired hours, their applications will recieve more scrutiny from interested parties - they've missed the 6th August deadline for automatic licence conversion, and hence the busiest period for council licensing officers and other authorities that review applications.

The only nightclub whose application is viewable on the council website now is Bar3 in Risbygate, which has requested 2.30am closing Monday to Weds and Sunday, 4 am on Thursday and 5am on Friday and Saturday (ie on Saturday and Sunday mornings).

Tesco has requested 6am to midnight everyday. That means you'll be able to buy alcohol somewhere in town at the weekend at all times except 5am to 6am. What are the implications for violence, disorder, nuisance and health? Analysis to follow. Drink up now ladies and gentlemen.