A POPULAR Hereford public house is all out of fighting spirit after authorities called time on its late show ambitions.

Darren Lord, manager of O'Neills, Commercial Road, says he accepts a county council decision that keeps his Irish theme bar from staying open into the early hours.

A further appeal to magistrates would 'cost' and comes with no guarantee of success, he says.

O'Neills applied to vary its public entertainment licence, intending 'music and dancing' until 2am every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The initial refusal went to an appeal, heard by the council's regulatory committee last week.

While having no complaints about the O'Neills operation, police said that Commercial Road, with its 'wall-to-wall' licensed premises and takeaways, was already a 'hot spot' for public order problems.

Other authorities involved in an implementation group examining alcohol-related issues backed this view.

Members were unanimous that any approval for the O'Neill's application would have an 'adverse effect'. Councillors concurred and refused the appeal.

Mr Lord is realistic about what happens next. The pub he's taken charge of for two years 'carries on as normal'.

"We could go to the magistrates, but that will cost and is unlikely to change any minds."