Blunder sees White Horse at Holme bid to serve food until 5am

Anglian Country Inns (ACI) has bought the White Horse at Holme, near Hunstanton and is refurbishing the 18th century pub before it reopens in May.

A copy of a licensing application posted at the building says it is applying to serve food until 5am and stage live music until midnight.

But a spokesman for the company, which runs nine other venues across the region including the White Horse and Jolly Sailors at nearby Brancaster Staithe, said there had been an "administrative error".

They added: "The application was submitted with incorrect information, we apologise.

The notice which was posted in the village at Holme (Image: Submitted)

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"For information, the White Horse Holme is not planning on doing any late-night refreshments.

"We are not planning on changing our licensing hours to anything different from the previous pub owner's operating hours - which included live music indoors and out until 11pm."

The application has now been taken offline by West Norfolk Council and a new form containing the correct times is due to be submitted this week.

The White Horse pictured in 2008, when it was painted white (Image: Ian Burt)

Villagers have previously expressed concerns over extra lighting and extending the car park at the pub, which stands in the middle of the village on Kirkgate.

AC Inns also plans on returning it to its original white colour - eight years after a previous owner painted it blue.

Its chairman Cliff Nye said: "The object of the exercise is improvement and originality. We want to make sure it remains a community asset."

The pub is believed to date back to the 1700s and served the village for generations with smugglers, fishermen and farmworkers raising their glasses in its oak-beamed bar.

In the 21st Century, second homers and visitors to nearby beaches and nature reserves make up the bulk of its trade.