BOMBAY Sapphire has moved one step closer to opening its site at Laverstoke Mill after its licensing hours were given the green light.

The gin company was given the go-ahead after it changed the proposed hours for licensed events at the historic mill, which will feature a distillery and visitor centre, following objections from concerned residents.

In the original plans, Bombay Sapphire applied for a licence to hold events until 2am, Monday to Sunday. But in a lastminute compromise, the company agreed to put a stop to events held at the Laverstoke Mill site at midnight from Monday to Saturday and settled on hosting no events on Sunday evenings.

A noise management plan, which will be agreed with the borough council’s environmental health team, will also be put in place before the first event at the site, which is due to open in the spring.