THE owner of a Basingstoke town centre bar is making a bid to extend opening hours to 4am in a trial before national legislation paves the way for 24-hour drinking.

Rob Bates, owner of the Rhu Bar, in London Street, is asking magistrates for permission to sell alcohol until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays, 3am on Thursdays, 1.30am on Sundays and 1am from Monday to Wednesday from November.

Mr Bates said that, although he did not wish to open until 4am every weekend, the aim was to test the water ahead of the new Licensing Act.

Venues will be able to apply to sell alcohol 24 hours a day when the act comes into effect in February.

Mr Bates added: "If the application is granted, it's a case of trial and error until February.

"We'll stay open longer if people want it - the idea is to see if there's a market for it."

The Rhu Bar is among several Basingstoke venues that open until 2am at weekends, and Mr Bates, 38, said he believed that opening even later would be a hit with customers.

"We would like to open until 4am for special events, with live acts once or twice a month," he said.

"The plan would be to serve food until 9pm, have people still sitting at their tables until around 10.30pm, and then we would want to have a live act followed by a DJ - a really good night for people.

"Times have changed in terms of the hours that people work these days, and those who work shifts, or work until late, still want to be able to meet their friends afterwards."

Earlier this month, The Basingstoke Extra's sister paper, The Gazette, reported that the new legislation has prompted the police, council and a range of groups to link up in a project to ensure that anticipated longer drinking hours don't make alcohol-fuelled violence in the town worse.

But Mr Bates said he believed his customers would not cause a problem if his extended hours bid was given the green light.

Licensing justices at Andover magistrates court will consider the application next Wednesday.

Mr Bates said: "My bar is for over-21s, and I don't have any trouble at the moment.

"People don't come here to binge-drink - it's all about the food, music and entertainment.

"The Rhu Bar is not like some other bars, where people are standing up and drinking without any form of entertainment, and then get kicked out at the end of the night.

"We don't put on any promotions that encourage people to drink heavily."

Mr Bates added that he does not plan to push for 24-hour opening once the new law comes into effect.

"I would be a fool to want to," he said. "I believe 24-hour drinking would not be good for the town centre. It would attract undesirables and that would cause a problem for the police.

"There should be a cut-off point where the town closes down for a little while."

Mr Bates' plan to sell alcohol for longer hours prompted a mixed reaction from residents and councillors.

Councillor Erica Shaw, who represents the Eastrop ward on Basingstoke council, said: "I don't think it would be very good for residents for the bar to open that late. I think this seems a bit excessive and could lead to noise and disturbance. Current late opening already causes problems as people don't leave the town centre straight away."

But Barbara Green, 83, who lives in the nearby almshouses in London Street, said: "I don't think this will cause any problems. I sleep soundly, so I am not concerned about the plans."

Liz Walsh, Basingstoke police media services officer, said it would not be appropriate for the police to comment on the matter before the court hearing.