The new bosses of a run-down pub say troublemakers will be barred - amid neighbours’ fears of fighting, drugs and “screaming matches” in the street.

Mat and Vickie Stevens are renovating the long-closed London Tavern in Addington Street, Margate, after snapping it up at auction last year.

The couple have re-applied for the venue’s licence, wanting to stay open till 1.30amThursday to Saturday, stopping alcohol sales at 1am.

But those living nearby say Hawley Square, which the pub backs onto, is “rife with drug dealing and drug consumption”.

One of 11 objectors wrote: “There are fights and screaming matches throughout some nights.

“The encouragement of further late-night social activity in this area will only add to this anti-social behaviour.

“Not only will people be able to consume alcohol until the small hours seven days a week, they will also be able to score drugs from the square.

“It's a scary combination that can only result in increased levels of crime and disorder.”

Kent Police figures show five reports of anti-social behaviour in Addington Street in February this year.

In January, there were four, as well as one report from Hawley Square - with the latter described by the resident as “disruptive and quite frightening”.

“The idea of late-night disturbances from both sides of our property is deeply worrying,” they added.

“Our child's bedroom backs onto Addington Street and is only a few doors up from the London Tavern.

“The idea of patrons, however well behaved, leaving the premises at the times suggested and walking past family homes is likely to be very anti-social and disturbing to our family.”

But Mr Stevens told the Extra The London Tavern will not be a party bar - instead serving as a traditional family-friendly pub.

“People who are screaming and hollering won't be tolerated,” the 51-year-old said.

“I'll be there from opening till closing every single shift for the first six months to filter out the people that shouldn't be in and make sure that they're barred.

“I've witnessed firsthand the people who hang around in the park out back.

“They come through screaming and swearing and smelling like they've been smoking stuff.

“These people won't be welcome in the pub.”

Mr Stevens believes reopening the venue, which closed in October 2022, will help prevent anti-social behaviour in Hawley Square.

“I'm not afraid to go outside and tell people to stop hanging around,” he added.

The landlord also says the light from the pub will improve the currently dark street at night, and anyone feeling unsafe would be welcome to seek refuge inside.

Noise was another concern raised by neighbours, but Mr Stevens says the old building’s windows will be replaced with double glazing.

“They also said that there'd be lots of people outside smoking and vaping and making lots of noise and being very disruptive,” he said.

“Well, we have a policy where we don't mind people vaping inside the pub.

“There would only be a few people smoking outside in the garden, and it would be shut off by 10pm during the week and 11pm at weekends.”

The licensing application also includes live and recorded music being played at the venue.

Mr Stevens’ wife, Vickie, is a DJ and will sometimes be on the decks.

The application asks to run sets until closing time at 1am, but the publican says this is a “worst-case scenario”.

“I don't think we'd ever run a band until one o'clock,” he said.

Furthermore, the hour after they stop serving alcohol would allow punters to leave sporadically, rather than spilling out onto the street all at once.

The application also requests the pub stay open until 1am Sunday to Wednesday, stopping booze at midnight.

Mr Stevens added: “There's always been a pub there, and it's always had a one o'clock licence on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

“It's always had a midnight licence the rest of the week. So, I'm not asking for anything that wasn't previously on there.”

Once open, the pub will serve food such as smash burgers. It will be run as a coffee shop and meeting room in the mornings.