A SURPRISE move to cut the entertainment hours at Minehead's historic Queen's Hall led to a call for public support this week as the owners went on the offensive to fight off a closure threat. Just five days after winning a six-month reprieve from prosecution over alleged failures to meet planning conditions controlling noise at the seafront pub - a former theatre built 90 years ago - Marcus and Kate Kravis were told the venue's entertainment licence was to be reviewed. West Somerset District Council, which is both the planning and licensing authority, is now considering imposing licensing conditions banning live entertainment after 7pm and limiting the sound from the pub's 'big screen', which regularly screens major national and international sports events. But Mr and Mrs Kravis have warned that any reduction in hours would make closure "highly probable" and possibly force them to convert the building back to its former use as an amusement arcade or even close it completely. They are now hoping local people will lobby the council and support a campaign to keep the Queen's Hall open. Mrs Kravis told the Free Press: "We should describe ourselves as disappointed that it has come to this but in reality we are just tired and thoroughly fed up. "We have taken a historic Minehead building that was already a noisy amusement arcade, open until midnight in the summer, and restored it in a manner that organisations like the Theatre Trust and conservation societies must be pleased with." She said she and her husband had been working with the council to try and resolve the noise situation and had spent the last month preparing for last Thursday's planning meeting at which councillors backed the six-month 'stay of execution'. Mrs Kravis said the couple had already done more than could be expected to comply with the planning conditions. "We have installed a state of the art speaker and sound management system that controls all aspects of noise, including limiting the sound. "We have also installed sound insulation, which has involved destroying the decor on one half of the building. "This was all done with the council's knowledge and we were trying to work with the council to set suitable limits." Mrs Kravis said the Queen's Hall had been an entertainment venue for live bands and cinema since 1914 and was situated in a main commercial area of the town. "It is now a vital cog in the tourism facilities of Minehead, as well as being a multi-purpose venue for local events." Mr Kravis, meanwhile, maintained the couple had a strong case and, with their solicitor, would be looking forward to being able to put it before the licensing panel which will decide if any further restrictions are to be imposed. "We have long term plans for the Queen's Hall which revolve around the premises being used for a variety of entertainment and other events, and time restriction on entertainment is frankly not a viable proposition," said Mr Kravis. "The council is also suggesting that the big screen not be used unless a sound limiter is installed - can you imagine watching the World Cup football and not being able to cheer because it may be too noisy? "If someone had said to me before we took on the Queen's Hall that this would be the position that we would find ourselves in in 2006, I would have said it was too far-fetched. "We desperately need the support of local people who want the Queen's Hall to stay open. "Hopefully, people will find the time to write to their local councillor and the council to express their opinion - even if they have done this before. "We are of the opinion that we are both morally and legally in the right and will fight our case on all fronts." Mr Kravis pledged that the couple would continue to work with the council to try to resolve the issue. Notice of the licence review was served on Wednesday. Ian Timms, the council's environmental health and licensing manager, said a 28-day period for people to comment on the proposed restrictions would follow and the authority would then have 20 days in which to stage a meeting of a licensing panel. He said that said although Mr and Mrs Kravis had been given six months in which to comply with the planning conditions on noise, the current problems were also a breach of the Queen's Hall licence conditions. "There are three different pieces of legislation involved in this but basically the licensing breach does constitute a public nuisance." Mr Timms said he had been working closely with Mr and Mrs Kravis and would continue to do so. "If it is possible to negotiate a settlement, then we will do so." He said the licensing panel would either impose the proposed additional conditions limiting entertainment at the venue or modify them.