The Architect pub and restaurant has been refused permission to use its outdoor area past 9pm.

The Nicholas Street pub had applied for extended opening hours, including opening the restaurant at an earlier hour of 9am, 'to serve an extended breakfast offer'.

The outdoor area currently closes at 9pm, with customers being asked to move inside if they wish to continue drinking or dining.

The application to Chester West and Cheshire Council proposed no physical changes to the approved area for outdoor dining and drinking.

Council planners have granted permission for The Architect to open at 9am for breakfast.

But a council report explained the late use of the beer garden could not be allowed.

"It is acknowledged that extending the opening hours of the outdoor area until 10:30pm would have economic benefits for the applicant and social benefits for customers," a council report said.

"However, it is considered that these benefits would be limited and insufficient to outweigh the harm to residential amenity outlined above.

"Refusal of this aspect of the proposal is therefore recommended."

The Architect highlighted a lack of 'material complaints or incidents' relating to the restaurant's operations, both inside and outside, since its opening just before Christmas in 2012.

The application for the new opening hours said: "There has been no known material impact upon residential amenities.

"Consequently, it is not considered that the proposed extended hours of use will have any significant adverse impact."

As part of the bid, the pub commissioned an independent noise impact assessment (NIA), which concluded the proposed extended trading hours "would not result in any unreasonable noise impact on the amenity of local residents".

This report recommended a number of noise control measures to minimise the potential noise impact from the external area.

These included, no external loudspeakers installed in the outdoor seating area, signs displayed at the entrance/exit requesting customers to keep noise to a minimum and regular inspections to the outside area.

Highlighting benefits of the proposed changes, it added: "The proposed extension of trading hours would help to promote the long-term vitality and viability of the area.

"It would directly benefit this area by helping it to grow and diversify in a way that responds to the rapid changes in the retail and leisure industries.

"It is considered that the proposed extension of trading hours would also directly assist in enhancing social interaction and the opportunities for meetings between people, who might not otherwise come into contact with each other within Chester."

Some objections were received, regarding noise disturbance from proposed longer opening hours and ambiguity surrounding the extent of the proposed outdoor area where opening hours would be extended.

Various comments in support of the application were also received, raising points such as an existing low level of noise produced from the site, the struggling state of hospitality in Chester, and the beneficial asset which The Architect provides to the local community.

Locals also cited the efficient management of the pub garden, with little to no noise disruption experienced to date, with the 9pm cut-off to move inside, feeling too early in the summer months.

But council planners were not persuaded and refused the late opening.

See the full application here.