In the last week of July residents were appalled to learn that Dacorum Borough Council had received an application for the re-licensing of The Two Brewers which included an extension of opening hours Monday to Sunday to 2.30am with refreshment provided on the premises until 3.30am; the provision of live and recorded music and an additional hour requested on Bank Holiday weekends.
It was part of a blanket application made by the Spirit Group, who own The Two Brewers, covering all their outlets and was apparently made without consulting Gary and Julie Millerchip, the managers at the Brewers. The Parish Council have strongly objected to the proposed opening times and dozens of residents have written to the Licensing Officer at Dacorum registering their objections.
As soon as Gary learnt of local concern he contacted Dacorum Borough Council to change the application to allow alcohol to be on sale until 12.00pm to hotel residents with an extra hour requested for special occasions e.g. New Year’s Eve. “The last thing Gary and I want is to upset local residents,” says Julie. “We love it here and enjoy meeting the locals in our pub. We wouldn’t do this to the village”.
I have written to the owner of the Spirit Group to inform her that “the residents of this village are appalled by the extension of hours requested and cannot understand why your company has submitted such an insensitive and inappropriate application”.
The Parish Clerk informed me today (10 August) that she has spoken to a senior manager at the Spirit Group who acknowledged the concerns of residents and confirmed that Gary and Julie are in the process of submitting a revised application. Dacorum’s Licensing Committee is due to meet early in September.

Liz Holliday, Chairman,
Chipperfield Parish Council