Plans for a new real ale pub in Norwich have been given the green light.

Norwich Tap House, in Redwell Street, has been at the centre of a battle between the owners and the residents, who claimed that it would create noise and increase crime and disorder.

A licensing meeting heard that applicants Patrick Fisher and Stuart Laidlaw, who run a number of venues in the city including Kartel, The Ten Bells and The Plasterers Arms, were seeking to extend the hours of alcohol sale and the opening times.

In August last year the building was granted a licence to hold wine tasting sessions between 9am and 8pm.

And at yesterday's meeting, councillors granted a licence enabling them to sell alcohol from 11am every day until 11pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday and Sundays and until 11.45pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bruce Faulkner from Rogers and Norton, representing Mr Fisher and Mr Laidlaw, said: 'It's not the type of place that will attract youngsters. It's going to sell speciality beer, it will be much more of a real ale pub.'

The meeting heard that the bar was intended to be 'like the Belgian Monk but without the food and with beers from further afield'.

Residents raised concerns about the level of noise and the cleanliness of the streets.

Peter Bentley, chairman of the friends of Elm Hill, said he was worried about people vomiting and urinating in the area.

Mr Bentley said: 'Who do you think clears it up? It's the residents and the businesses.

'Within half a mile there are 14 drinking establishments. Two are currently closed so there's potentially 16. It's just not on.'

Edward Hardman, who lives next door to the pub, said: 'There are beams which run right through 8 Redwell Street to my bedroom.

'I feel that the area isn't suitable for having a bar. It's going to be a bar right next to my bedroom.'

The council also received more than 10 letters objecting to the licence.

Norwich University College of the Arts also objected to the plan.

Mr Fisher said: 'We want to bring in the right clientele. Throughout the last three and a half years of this process, at every step of every stage, I have taken every measure possible to appease the residents.'