A CAERLEON bar that had its opening hours cut after residents complained about noise and anti-social behaviour lost an appeal to overturn the decision.

Boleros was also ordered to pay £2,400 costs to Newport City Council aftermagistrates in Cardiff dismissed the case on Tuesday.

The authority’s licensing sub-committee decided last October that the High Street bar should stop selling alcohol by midnight and close by 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays instead of 1am.

The decision came after neighbours complained about people shouting, incidents of criminal damage, vomiting, fighting and even people having sex in side streets.

Kathryn Hitchings, who runs Pendragon Guest House in nearby Cross Street, welcomed the news that the decision was upheld.

She said: “I think it was a fair compromise.

“We are just relieved it was upheld and wish them all the best because they are doing a lot to encourage live bands and music, and that’s good for the village.”

Former Carleon councillor Gail Giles said she was delighted with the result, adding: “It is a victory for local residents who only wanted to live in the centre of Caerleon without having to suffer noise and anti-social behaviour into the early hours of the morning.”

Nobody at Boleros was available for comment as the Argus went to press last night, but a spokesman for the bar told the Argus in October that it had and would continue to take steps to address issues of concern, and hoped there would be better communication with residents.