Bistro and wine bar owner Philip O’Shea said his premises will not become a magnet for rowdy late-night drinkers after he applied to close later.

Mr O’Shea hopes to vary the opening times of The Peppermill, in St John’s Street, Devizes.

He is seeking to extend the hours until 11pm Sunday to Tuesday and until 3am Wednesday to Saturday. Currently The Peppermill is open until 11.30pm Thursday to Saturday and 5.30pm Monday to Wednesday.

Mr O’Shea has been granted the extended hours for his premises licence by Wiltshire Council, but must also gain approval to amend the hours on the planning permission he received when he converted his estate agency shop into The Peppermill in May 2012.

Three months ago Mr O’Shea removed the delicatessen from the front of The Peppermill and replaced it with a wine bar as he said customers were more interested in eating and drinking at his premises than buying meat and cheeses.

Mr O’Shea said a condition of his premises licence means that he can’t allow entry after midnight. The condition was asked for by the police.

He said: “Getting a late night licence isn’t so I can open until 3am and for people to be sick everywhere. I am happy with the restriction of not allowing anyone in after midnight. It gives me the flexibility to open longer. As soon as the last customer leaves we will shut. I have to go to bed myself.

“At the moment we have to ask people to leave at 11.30pm, which, more often than not, is far too early for a lot of people. Most of our clients are of a more mature nature and don’t wish to go to places like The Crown or Wetherspoons after they have finished a meal in my restaurant.”

He is also going to be opening permanently on Sundays after a trial period was successful, starting on August 4 from 10.30amto 4pm.