IT is one of York's most popular bars - and now it is set to remain open late at night seven days a week.

Council planners are set to grant the Pitcher & Piano a licence to open until 3am from Monday to Saturday and 2am on a Sunday.

Councillors attending a meeting of City of York Council's planning committee on Thursday will be asked to give the bar, which is owned by Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries, the green light to press ahead.

A report to the meeting, written by development control officer Jonathan Kenyon, reveals there have been no objections to the proposal, which was brought before planning at the request of Guildhall ward councillor Brian Watson.

He felt he wanted elected council members to take a decision on the application, rather than it being decided using delegated powers.

There are no residents housed nearby that could be affected by the changes to the hours, Mr Kenyon writes, and police have no crime and disorder concerns.

"The site is considered not to be in a part of the city where is an over-concentration of drinking establishments to the extent that is detrimental to the vitality or viability of the area," he writes.

"The proposed opening time would be later than those given at the other two bars nearby. Orgasmic is required to close by 1am and City Screen 2.30am, apart from Sundays when City Screen is required to close earlier.

"These hours would create staggered leaving times, as such there would not be a problem where large numbers of people are dispersing from the area at a given time. This is likely to reduce problems associated with antisocial behaviour and noise."

The revised opening hours make provision for a one-hour "drinking- up" period. Officers are recommending that, should permission be granted, a condition be imposed that any amplified music or entertainment at the venue should be inaudible from the nearest dwellings on Coney Street and North Street.

A brewery spokeswoman said: "This application is a direct response to customer demand and will bring the Pitcher & Piano in line with other bars in the city centre."

Updated: 10:45 Friday, April 28, 2006