A village pub has been granted a licence for an outdoor dining area - despite objections from some nearby residents.

The Royal Oak at Worleston just five miles from Crewe, has recently reopened after undergoing a full refurbishment.

The decision to grant the licence was published this week and the pub were notified last week (May 18).

The Royal Oak had applied to vary its licence to include a 60 seat brick-built dining room and a further outdoor open walled shelter for outdoor dining - now approved (The Royal Oak).

Members of Cheshire East's Licensing Act Sub-Committee were told at a meeting earlier this month, the outdoor dining area had been added to cater for any customers' concerns following the Covid pandemic.

Pub owner John Schofield told the meeting: "I always intended to keep it as a small place as it was.

"But because of Covid we needed more indoor space and we certainly needed more outdoor space, which I've gone on and developed over the last three years."

Consequently, the pub applied to vary its licence to include a 60-seat brick-built dining room and a further outdoor open walled shelter for outdoor dining.

The Royal Oak, Worlestom is located just five miles from Crewe (The Royal Oak)

Customer of the Royal Oak, David Spibey from Worleston, told Nub News: "The decision to grant the approval is 100 per cent the correct decision - anything else would have been a travesty.

"The objections were ridiculous in the extreme. If you buy a house by a pub, built on land that was until recently owned by the same pub, what do you expect?"

Mr Spibey worked at The Royal Oak 32 years ago as a teenager. His family have also lived in Worleston village for over 100 years.

He added: "The pub - which is what it is, will only thrive now it also has a standalone restaurant. It can thrive even more as the community venue it definitely is."

One objector told the meeting noise and smells could impact on neighbours.

The Royal Oak before renovation work took place on the pub (Google).

He said that when people bought their houses, which were built about seven years ago – they were told the area the pub now planned to use, was to have been private.

Concerns were also raised about the proximity of the outdoor area.

Committee chair David Edwardes told the meeting the licensing hours being applied for had been reduced.

Originally, the opening hours were 10am to midnight Monday to Thursday and 10am to 1am Friday to Sunday.

The pub would now be closing at 11pm Monday to Thursday, 12am Friday and Saturday and 10pm on Sunday.

The application was granted with a number of conditions.

The children's play area has to be closed to the public by 9pm along with the open walled shelter, terrace and garden (The Royal Oak).

These include notices posted around the premises asking customers to be considerate regarding noise levels.

The children's play area, open walled shelter, terrace and garden at the rear of the premises all have to be closed to the public by 9pm.

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(Ryan Parker and Belinda Ryan)