St Andrews hotel wins beer garden Open-ing hour battle

A St Andrews hotel has been granted permission to extend the opening hours of its beer garden, despite objections from a local resident.

Members of Fife’s licensing board also agreed to allow the West Port Hotel to host more patrons in the area for the four competition days of next month’s Open Championship.

David Turner, whose property borders the beer garden, had objected to the proposals, claiming the alteration would constitute a nuisance to his family home.

However, the applicants, the Thistle Pub Company, amended their original application that would have seen the temporary conditions put in place for the week of the competition.

Backed by the board, the amended application means the South Street premises can open its beer garden over the four championship days until 10pm, while the number of patrons allowed to enter will rise to 45 a 50% increase.

However, licensing standards officers have been asked to monitor the site to ensure that the temporary conditions are being properly implemented.

West Port representatives described the Open Championship as “an exceptional event” that was “critical to St Andrews”.