A tearoom and cocktail bar wants to serve its customers from a plush new roof terrace offering sweeping views of Leigh.

Mad Dogs and Englishmen, in London Road, is drawing up plans for a roof terrace where customers can sip a drink in the summer sunshine.

Owner Justin Hazel also wants to create a roof-top garden where he can grow some of the produce he uses for his menus.

If a planning application, currently being drawn up, is successful he will also install a solar panel area on the large flat roof to help with soaring energy bills.

The tea room obtained a licence to serve alcohol up until 10pm in April last year. In December this was extended to midnight on Friday’s and Saturdays.

He now hopes to extend the licence to allow drinks to be served on the roof top terrace until 8pm.

Speaking at a licensing committee hearing yesterday, Mr Hazel said: “We lose out a lot from a lot of other premises during summer because they’ve got areas to sit outside and we don’t.

“The main part of our business is during the day for an afternoon tea menu in the restaurant. From our point of view this is the next logical step to survive as a business.”

Mr Hazel added: “Especially during the summer months we miss a large part of our business because people want to stay on with us but they don’t want to sit inside. Hospitality at the moment is not an easy business and we have to adapt.”

Leigh Town Council objected to the application fearing the business would be a nuisance to residents.

Leigh Town Council clerk, Helen Symmons, said: “This is the third licensing application and hearing relating to Mad Dogs.

“From the indicative plans we have seen, it appears around 50 people could be on the roof at any time drinking.

“The roof design is highly decorative with some very low parts. The fact that alcohol will be consumed poses and enormous risk to public safety. Litter, glass and food could easily drop from the terrace onto the street below and potentially passers-by. An intoxicated person taking a tumble could have dire consequences.”

The committee has yet to publish its decision.