A snooker hall owner hopes to make his venue one of the best in the region as he looks to win over Coulsdon residents to back his plan.

Tony Thompson, one of the owners of Frames Sports Bar in Brighton Road, Coulsdon, has come under scrutiny from residents who fear he wants to turn the snooker hall into a night club.

Mr Thompson, 44, said a number of snooker tournaments are held at the venue with top snooker players such as Marco Fu and David Gray using the bar’s facilities.

The snooker fan also bought the table used in the final of the 2012 World Snooker Championship.

The sports bar has applied for an extension of their license to sell alcohol until 2am on Saturdays and 1am on Thursdays.

They have also asked to play live music until 2am at the weekends.

Mr Thompson said: "It is nothing to do with discos and parties and stuff like that. I have various professional players playing here, including Marco Fu and Tony Drago.

"I am trying to organise tournaments but sometimes these won’t start until late in the evening.

"I have got England players practising here including the U-18 captain. The application is purely from a sporting point of view."