Councillors are to consider plans for extending opening hours for licensed premises for the 2022/23 festive period.

The licensing board will meet today, September 6, to look at the rules for between December 9 and January 3, both dates inclusive. It is an annual process to make provision for venues to have longer hours, as venues and residents make the most of the festive season.

Pubs, hotel bars and members’ clubs will be able to apply to open one hour more than normal during this period, except Hogmanay, when it can be extended to 3am. But such venues would require last entry at 11pm and the event must be pre-ticketed.

Nightclubs - defined as premises with “significant entertainment” - can apply to stay open until 4am during the festive period set by the board.

A report to the board states: “In order to allow licence holders to plan entertainment programmes for the festive period as far in advance as possible, the board normally determines the period during which the policy on the granting of extended hours may be exercised in respect of the forthcoming festive period and agrees the additional hours which may be approved. The proposal for this year reflects previous decisions taken by the board.”

Applications will be dealt with by the clerk to the licensing board. 
If there are specific requests that are beyond the rules, then the members of the licensing board could consider them, particularly if there are any objections made about a venue’s requests.