Gareth Bale granted permission to open controversial golf-themed bar after agreeing to reduce its opening hours

FOOTBALLER Gareth Bale has been given permission to open a controversial golf-themed bar after agreeing to reduce its opening hours.

The Wales captain and Real Madrid forward wants to create his second crazy golf-themed venue, called Par 59.

APGareth Bale has been granted permission to open a controversial golf-themed bar after agreeing to reduce its opening hours[/caption]

But the plan received more than 100 objections from locals worried it would encourage drinking and anti-social behaviour in Bristol.

The council’s licensing committee only approved the venture after 32-year-old teetotal Bale’s team agreed to cut the opening hours by one hour.

The venue, due to open in the autumn, will now stay open until 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and until 11.30pm the rest of the week.

The meeting heard that the applicants — True Swing Bristol — did not intend the establishment to be focused on boozing.

If it follows the model of Bale’s first venue in Cardiff, it would have two nine-hole courses and serve premium drinks.

It aims to “bring a level of sophistication to a pursuit many people associate with a family day out”.