PLANS have been unveiled of a £500,000 revamp of Minehead's Wellington Hotel with a huge rear and first floor extension which will lead to the creation of an extra 20 jobs.

In addition, the hotel was this week granted a licence to stay open until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights with a one hour 'winding down' period with soft drinks and food on sale until 3am.

It is the first premises to be granted such hours under a pilot scheme aimed at stamping out rowdy behaviour as drinkers spill out from the pubs and clubs onto the streets of Minehead at the same time.

Police hope the additional hour will allow a 'cooling off' period and will mean pub-goers can relax from the loud music and drinking.

Similar 3am closing trials have been undertaken in the past in Taunton and 5am finishes in Bristol with no reported increase in crime or disturbance.

Inspector Rod Price, of Minehead police, said: "Historically, there has always been a problem associated with people leaving pubs and clubs in a mass exodus and anti-social behaviour.

"What this scheme will do will allow people to leave licensed premises at staggered times and cut down on noise disturbance and anti-social behaviour caused by people hanging around the town."

Other licensed drinking venues in Minehead such as the York Hotel, Cheeky's nightclub and New York New York will have to apply for their own late licence.

Artist impressions of the Wellington Hotel extension have been revealed this week although planning permission was granted in October 1998.

Designs for the extension include two more bars, including a first floor cocktail and wine bar, a new dance floor and entertainment and food area.

The extension will also incorporate redundant buildings at the back of the hotel.

Work to create a more upmarket Wellington Hotel will begin straight away with a completion date pencilled in for Easter 2001.

The whole ground floor will house five bars and two more dance floors and the staircase leading to the cocktail bar, while the new layout will be fully air conditioned.

Chairman of the Wellington group of companies Barry Richards said he was eager to start the face-lift as soon as possible.

"I expect to spend upwards of half a million pounds on the new building, and a complete refit with carpets and furniture in the three existing bars and dining rooms famous for our hot meat carvery.

"The new areas will improve our facilities for weddings and other large functions and will create some 20 new jobs," he said.

Mr Richards put the Wellington Hotel extension on the back-burner after it was approved in 1998 while he concentrated on refurbishing the Masons Arms Hotel, at Williton, which opened earlier this year.

Minehead Chamber of Trade chairman Mike Padgett said: "At a time when Minehead's traders are concerned about their future, and having only just fought off the merger with North Devon and the uncertainty around Butlins, it is pleasing to see to see that Barry Richards is investing big money in his establishments.

He added: "I know that as much work as possible will go to the local traders."