The new Millennium looks set to become the all-night party that never was.

The Government has announced plans to let pubs and clubs stay open for up to 36 hours over New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, allowing revellers to drink right through the night.

But in North Yorkshire, the vast majority of pubs look set to call time before the grey light of a new era dawns on the county.

Landlords are indicating that the costs of employing bar staff might simply be too high to stay open all night.

Norman Frank, LVA president for the Ryedale area, said: "It's all right to have long hours but where do you get the money to pay the staff ?

"I don't think customers will be drinking enough to pay for the staff. They might do this year because of the new Millennium, but not for future new years." Mr Frank, landlord of the Cross Keys in Malton, said he thought the Government announcement was a welcome step on the way to 24 hour opening

In York, many pubs look set to close their doors between 2 and 4am on New Year's Day, with clubs staying open until 5am.

York licensing officer PC Arthur Swaine said that of about 150 pubs in the York area which responded to a questionnaire about New Year arrangements, less than a dozen said they would like to see 36-hour opening.

Most said they would prefer to close at 1am, 2am or 4am, many indicating that they wanted time to celebrate the new Millennium themselves after the customers had gone home.

Landlords had also expressed concern about staffing costs.

see COMMENT 'Our pub hours are still a farce'

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