A CLUB in Lliswerry has been granted permission to serve alcohol at 10am to allow for funerals and christenings.

The owner of Lliswerry and Nash Constitutional Club said if the licence had not been extended it would have signalled the “end” for the business.

But neighbour Brian Smith objected to the plan claiming his family could not “live a normal life” due to loud music at the weekend. He also claimed he woke up to find empty bottles, cigarette ends and even dirty nappies thrown over their garden fence from the club.

Club chairman and owner Andrew Murdoch said: “The average age of people in our club is 65. Mr Smith complained about Saturday nights, which is when the pensioners play bingo and have a dance. It’s the only club in the area they can go to.

“We work hard and comply with everything the council asks us to do. The beer garden is now closed and is just a smoking area with all the furniture removed. Otherwise, we know our licence would be at risk.”

He said owners had spent £200,000 refurbishing the two-storey club with a members’ bar, lounge and function room – and had a zero tolerance policy to anyone causing trouble.

“Members are generally 60 and over, which can be difficult thinking about long-term viability,” he said. “People come here because they think it is safe. It’s not so long ago that Lliswerry was a good area; now it is not as nice as it used to be. But we work hard to stay clean and tidy.

Speaking before the decision, he said: “If we are not successful it will be the end of our club because without funerals and christenings we won’t be able to generate enough trade to keep going.”

The council recommended he apply for longer opening hours because funerals and christenings could take place at any time of day, he added. During the week, the club does not normally open until 4pm.

Councillors agreed the club could open for longer hours with a license to put on private events. They did not receive any objections from police or environmental health.

Mr Murdoch said he disputed what Mr Smith had claimed, saying there had been a personal issue and that the fence he said had been broken was already rotting and not accessible from the club.

In his application Mr Murdoch said CCTV would monitor the entrance, signs would remind users to leave quietly, and the concert hall would be soundproofed.