Concerns have been raised over plans to extend the opening hours of a pub in Exmouth.

An application has been made to vary the premises licence of The Farmhouse pub, in Churchill Road, to allow it to open from 8am.

However, some town councillors have raised concerns over the need for a pub to be open from that time in a residential area.

Councillors from the Brixington ward, where the pub is located, have raised concerns for the prevention of public nuisance.

At a virtual town council planning meeting on Monday (August 17), councillors were told that the pub was planning on offering breakfasts.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Fred Caygill said: “They only need a few more hours and they will have all day opening.

“They are a licenced premises and opening at 11am is perfectly adequate for me.

“I don’t see the need to open from 8am.

“There are lots of opportunities for people to buy a cooked breakfast in the town.

“It’s a public house and they serve meals – they have got a license until 12.30am and that to me seems adequate.”

Cllr Cherry Nicholas suggested the Farmhouse could split its licence so they could serve alcohol from 11am and only serve food and non-alcoholic beverages from 8am.

The Farmhouse Pub is one of two Hungry Horse venues in Exmouth alongside the Bathhouse on the seafront.

Town clerk Lisa Bowman said its sister pub is currently open from 9am.

Councillor Tim Dumper said the Farmhouse should be allowed to serve alcohol with breakfasts.

He said: “That kind of pub is one where they have group meeting together and it may well be a little breakfast celebration they are having.”

Deputy mayor Brian Bailey added: “I cannot see how we can legally oppose this.

“It’s not proven there’s a disturbance to the public so there is no evidence to say no.”

The town council can make observations based on the four licencing objectives – the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

East Devon District Council will make the final decision on the application.