Last updated at 12:41, Wednesday, 21 May 2008

HUNDREDS of people have backed an Ulverston pub’s street cafe licence bid.

CAFE BID: Stuart Ward REF: 0343130

The Farmer’s Arms, on Market Place, has also applied for a street cafe licence. Both pubs have applied to Cumbria County Council, which will consult with members of the public, Ulverston Town Council and the police, before it reaches a decision. The licences are necessary as the tables and chairs will be on council land.

Mr Ward said that the licence is vital if the King’s Arms is to continue to thrive. A new beer garden is set to open at the King’s Arms in September, but until then the pub has no outdoor area.

Mr Ward has already placed some tables and chairs outside the entrance for food and soft drinks.

He said: ““I’m hoping it’s going to be passed. With the recent good weather we’ve had to turn people away who wanted to sit outside and have a drink. We can’t afford to turn customers away if we have a good summer. All the beer gardens around town are full, there’s no one inside the pubs.”

Mr Ward, who is also the vice chairman of Ulverston Licensed Victuallers Association, has run the King’s Arms for the past two years.

He said: “I’ve told the LVA about my application and they were really supportive.

“All of our customers are supporting the application and a lot of other pubs have too.

“Since the smoking ban we have kept our trade, I’ve got to thank our regulars for that.

“The council are always saying that they want to encourage tourism in Ulverston and I think letting people sit outside to drink and eat will do that.”

No-one from the Farmer’s Arms was available for comment.

First published at 11:54, Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk