A decision on a pub's plan for an outdoor bar in its beer garden was delayed until a later date.

The Stork Tavern on Halliwell Road applied for an alcohol licence from the council on April 25.

The pub's plan is for an outdoor bar to be allowed to sell alcohol until 10pm every day of the week in addition to the indoor bar which is already allowed to sell alcohol until midnight.

The application was up for consideration by a Licensing Sub-Committee at the town hall on Wednesday but after an adjournment this week the decision was delayed until a later date.

(Image: Bolton Council)

The application said: "Whilst the outside area is used for the consumption of alcohol the applicant proposes to open in the outside area a purpose-built bar to cater for these customers. 

"This is in addition to the current licence to cover the current licensable area."

The beer garden, which was a bowling green, is one of the biggest anywhere in the town according to the website of The Stork Tavern.

It is surrounded on three sides and, although there are no objections from residents, there is one objection from Environmental Health.

(Image: Bolton Council)

Katherine King, an environmental health officer, said: "This application area is bounded on three sides by residential properties, some of which are within five metres of this application area. It is an outdoor area which the applicant stated has a capacity of 200 people. The applicant requested the supply of alcohol in this area until 10pm with the area open until 10.30pm.

"Due to the proximity of the residential premises it will be difficult for the applicant to control noise from the proposed use to a level not to cause a public nuisance to the residential premises."

The Bolton News understands the delay to the decision is to allow the pub to apply for planning permission before applying for an alcohol licence.

It comes after an investigation into The Stork Tavern over an alleged breach of planning permission over the outdoor bar, which is already built.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.