A Wheathampstead micro-pub has applied to extend its opening hours.

The owners of The Reading Rooms on High Street want to open from 12pm to 10pm on weekdays and Sundays. Currently they are only allowed to open between 3pm and 10pm in the week and do not open on Sundays.

Co-owner Nick Farr explained: “To clarify – this application is to bring the planning in line with the previously granted premises license. This is purely an administrative exercise - there will be no change to our actual opening hours which, as per our license, are midday to 9.30pm daily.”

Partner Matt Elvidge added: “We would like these extended hours for a number of reasons - some purely commercial - the business needs the income from the lunchtime and Sunday trade to succeed.

“However, we also wish to open these extra hours for the wellbeing of our customers. One of the reasons the relatively new ‘micropub’ has been successful in over 400 locations is due to local engagement and a real community focus. We have elderly men and women who simply do not have anywhere else to go in the day.”

To view the application, go to St Albans council’s website and search for 5/2018/2286.