Alcohol sales at the Corn Exchange will stop earlier to try to stop anti-social behaviour, Devizes Town Council has agreed.

The Corn Exchange has a premises licence until 3am allowing entertainment and alcohol to be sold.

Following disorder in the town on June 15 involving customers of the Corn Exchange, the town council voluntarily agreed to a request by police to bring forward last orders to 2am and for last entry to be 1am. The premises will still stay open until 3am.

The Corn Exchange’s nightclub opens most Saturday nights and some Fridays. Disorder which occurs in the town centre after 3am has been linked to the premises.

On the evening of June 15 (the same night that a police officer was assaulted in the town) there was disorder in Market Place when someone was refused entry to the Corn Exchange.

The person was later involved in a scuffle in the Market Place and Corn Exchange staff went to help – one was injured.

Simon Fisher, deputy town clerk of the town council, said: “The police requested us to stop selling alcohol earlier and have an earlier entry time to try to reduce anti-social behaviour in the town.

"We have started doing it already and it seems to be working.

"In addition our bar staff have been sent on training courses which allows them to be more aware of levels of intoxication.”

Asked if there was concern at the town council that it may lose revenue as a result of the changes, Mr Fisher said: “There was no reluctance on the part of the town council. The venue does generate revenue for the council, but the change should not make a massive difference.

"There was a reputational issue due to some unfortunate behaviour of customers and it was time to address it.”

The bar at the Corn Exchange is run by franchisee Stan Kelman who, Mr Fisher said, had agreed to the change.