YOU could hear a pin drop in the Langdon Beck Hotel, in Upper Teesdale.

And, despite being one of the first pubs in Britain to be granted a 24-hour drinks licence, it's likely to be that way for much of the time.

But landlord Glen Matthews and his wife, Sue, could not resist celebrating the advent of their historic licence when it coincided with the 50th birthday of their friend and barman, Joe Cogdon.

So last night's timetable at the hotel, which is in the heart of the North Pennines, went like this:

* The Matthews called time as usual at 11pm, then allowed 30 minutes drinking-up.

l The bar was then closed for another 30 minutes.

l On the stroke of midnight the bar re-opened, with locals and guests joining in an impromptu 50th birthday party.

"I suppose I have made a bit of history," said Mr Cogdon, a former Sunderland councillor who has worked in the licensing trade in Teesdale for several years.

"I was bought a couple of pints during the night to celebrate my birthday. Then we closed up.

"After midnight, a few pals turned up to celebrate what we jokingly called the end of prohibition.

"But there was no way we were going to carry on drinking for 24 hours," he said.

Like the Matthews, who moved to Upper Teesdale from a pub in the East End of London more than a year ago, Mr Cogdon sees the introduction of a 24-hour licence at Langdon Beck as a flexible way to cater for locals and visitors.

The 24-hour licence cost the Matthews more than a £1,000 in legal costs, as well as a £200 fee.

"The important thing about the new licence is the flexibility it gives us," said Mr Matthews. "We can still lock our doors at 11 o clock if we wish, but it gives us the discretion to serve locals along with residents for longer hours."

He gave the example of four 20-strong groups from English Nature, who visited Langdon Beck in spring this year to see rare black grouse mating in a field next to the hotel.

"They came into the hotel around seven in the morning, wet and cold. I would have loved to have been able to offer them a brandy with their coffee, but I couldn't. Now I can."

Mr Matthews also plans to offer similar hospitality to groups of walkers and cyclists visiting Langdon Beck.

But he will still decide when it is right to open - or close - his doors.

He said: "Anyway, it would be impossible for us to stay open 24 hours. We just haven't got the staff to cope with that sort of trade.

"We came here from the East End of London as a bit of an adventure. Since then, we have become more and more in love with the place. We don't want to spoil what is recognised as one of the last great hideaways for nature in the country."