DRINKERS at a historic village pub are raising a toast after their local won an entertainment licence.

Landlord Paul Dowsett, who has been behind the bar at The Crown in Bishop's Waltham for almost a year, is now booking performers to entertain his regulars.

"It's brilliant news. We are hoping to get some local bands in and really give something back to the people who use the pub," he said.

"This pub has been at the centre of the community for over 200 years and we have a range of generations in here from 20 to 80-year-olds.

"There isn't really anywhere else to go round here so it's really good news that we can put on some bands once in a while."

The application won approval from Winchester councillors at a planning and licensing meeting despite two objections.

Palace Mews, the managers of the houses directly opposite the pub, stated in a letter that increased noise late at night would stop their homeowners getting to sleep.

Resident Jane Paddick said she was concerned that disturbances in the car park and increased noise could come from the pub if the licence was granted.

She said: "We've been woken on many occasions from noise coming from the car park long after closing time."

Mr Dowsett told the committee the car park was an on-going concern that would be addressed as soon as possible as they were considering different schemes, including one where motorists would collect tokens from the pub so they could then get out through a barrier.

He also assured the committee that all doors and windows would be secured on the site to minimise noise disturbance.

An extensive £10,000 summer refurbishment project is now planned to bring the historically important pub back up to scratch.

Pub chain bosses at London Inns Group are in the process of tendering for bids to overhaul the outside of the building, which boasts a plaque commemorating the fact that Admiral Nelson's enemy Vice Admiral Villeneuve was held there after being captured during the battle of Trafalgar.