The application will now be decided by Canterbury City Council’s planning committee after objections from residents.
Wetherspoon argues a later closing time for the Oxford Street venue would meet demand and match nearby venues, with staff on hand to tackle anti-social behaviour.
It is the second time the firm has launched such a bid, with a similar move in 2023 quietly withdrawn.
That application sought to open until 12.30am on Sundays to Thursdays, with a 1am close on Fridays and Saturdays.
The new bid, a planning application seeking to vary conditions of the pub’s planning permission from 2010, requests permission to extend opening hours from 11.30pm until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Pub chiefs have renewed the application submitted in 2023 to open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights
Under the new proposals, the pub’s current opening hours of 8am to 11.30pm Sunday to Wednesday and 8am to 11.30pm on Thursdays would remain in place.
Ward councillor Clare Turnbull (Green) asked for the application to be considered by the planning committee after 15 objections were submitted.
Writing to the authority recently, Karen Redford says she fears the move will bring “significantly increased noise and disturbance at night”, with patrons leaving the venue in the early hours.
“There is no evidence of any form of signage to kindly ask customers to keep the noise down and no evidence of staff intervention when behaviour becomes anti-social,” she said.
“As it stands, there is already a culture of customers who hang around the front area after closing, often drunk, making large amounts of noise and socialising after hours.
“Over the years, I have phoned or spoken to staff who appear completely unaware of drunk customers shouting abuse, arguments and violent fights outside their front doors.
Residents fear an increase in late-night disturbance if The Peter Cushing in Whitstable is open for an extra hour at weekends
“There is a marked increase in these types of incidents during the summer months, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings.
“An extra hour would only increase the duration of this late-night noise and disturbance and impact all residents who currently live nearby.”
Christopher Smith added the original restrictions on the pub’s opening hours were included to protect the amenity of nearby residents and sees no reason for this to be altered.
“Anti-social behaviour is still a problem at The Peter Cushing. From fighting and verbal abuse in Oxford Street to people leaving the pub and urinating against mine and our neighbours’ fences,” he said.
“Often, there is broken glass and bottles at the back of the pub, which staff fail to clear away.
“There is not sufficient additional security on the doors of the premises to deal with disorder or safety concerns for people leaving the premises.”
Canterbury City Council Cllr Clare Turnbull, called in the application to the local authorities planning committee
One comment was lodged in support of the move.
Jacque Acaster said: “This is a well-run, family-friendly, busy public house, and if it needs to open an hour later on Friday and Saturdays to keep open, I am in full support.”
CCC’s environmental health team has raised no objections, with licensing officers also commenting the later hours would reduce the number of customers leaving the premises all at once.
Previously, Jake Alder, the landlord of The Pearson’s Arms, told KentOnline he wished Spoons good luck with their bid.
In papers submitted to CCC, Wetherspoon stressed the bid had the support of police and residents, following pre-application consultations.
It comes after the previous bid was withdrawn due to the number of objections from residents, so the issues and concerns could be addressed.
The former Oxford Street Bingo Hall in Whitstable preceded the Spoons pub, which opened in 2011. Picture: Chris Davey
They say the venue will continue to operate without music and stress they do not offer “irresponsible drinks promotions such as happy hours”.
A separate bid to extend the hours during which the pub can serve alcohol will need to be lodged by Wetherspoon with the city council’s licensing team.
A Wetherspoon spokesperson said: “We are aware of the concerns raised by local residents in response to our proposal for the Peter Cushing to open for an extra hour on Friday and Saturday night.
“The management plan submitted with the application tries to address those concerns .Wetherspoon also has a good track record of operating its pubs in a way that does not disturb its neighbours.
“We await determination of the application by the council in due course and do not think it appropriate to comment further until then.”
After a £1.5 million redevelopment, the old Gala bingo hall reopened as a pub in August 2011.
Its name is a tribute to one of the town’s most famous former residents, actor Peter Cushing OBE, who was known for his many roles in Hammer Horror films and his numerous appearances as the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.
He first visited Whitstable in the 1940s and in 1958 bought a house, initially for weekend use and then as his home in retirement until his death in 1994.
A decision on the application is expected by CCC’s planning committee on Tuesday, June 24.