Magistrates have thrown out a bid to allow stand-up drinking at two Brighton caf-bars.

Customers of the two Tin Drum bars in St James's Street and Dyke Road have to seated to be served.

Managing director David Radtke hoped to get permission for up to 30 people to stand at the bar and have a drink.

But licensing justices at Brighton Magistrates Court today threw out the application. They said it would be hard to enforce a limit on the number of people drinking there.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Radtke said: "Brighton and Hove on the one hand has just become a city and on the other has made a decision like this. It flies in the face of all logic, justice and reason. I am considering an appeal."

Objectors feared the plans for the St James's Street venue would lead to an increase in drunken street crime.

Trevor Scoble, of the Return The Aquarium Terraces Group, said: "He asked for stand-up drinking only a few months after promising it would just be a caf-bar.

"With all the problems we have in St James's street this just isn't on. The court has obviously heard what the residents are saying."