Pub in row over under 18s 'until 3am'

The Dove and Rainbow pub at Hartshead in the city centre has applied to Sheffield Council's Licensing Board to extend its opening hours to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2am from Sunday to Thursday. Pub bosses also want to remove conditions from their licence that currently bar children from the pub at night.

The application has sparked fears that youngsters could witness drunken, violent behaviour, and Julie Hague of the Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board has written to the licensing board objecting to the plan. She is concerned young children might stay at the premises until the early hours with adults.

But Dawn Gunther, of The Dove and Rainbow, said: "The reason we have applied for the licence variation is so if there are bands that have a member under the age of 18 then they can be allowed to play.

"We have no intention of allowing children into the premises."