City nightclub wants to open until 4am

The popular City venue in the town’s Princes Street is bidding to be able to entertain its customers by an extra hour on Friday and Saturday nights to 4am.

Falkirk Council Licensing Board was told the award winning venue has to move with the times to keep its client base.

Solicitor Archie MacIver said ‘rivals’ in Fife and West Lothian were already open until that time – and tempting City’s regulars away.

Mr MacIver told the board: “Since opening in 2007 after a multi-million pound investment, City is now recognised as one of the finest licenced premises of its type in the country.

“The owners have invested heavily in staff training and customer service and it is now a national award winner. Police Scotland recognise it as being well run, but the nightclub industry is changing and City will have to evolve.

“City customers are now going to clubs in Dunfermline and Livingston for example because they already open until 4am.

“The police in these areas had concerns about the potential of trouble as a result of the additional hour, but after a trial period their position has changed because the results have been contrary to what was expected. Instead, they have said they found instances of crime including drunk and disorderly down. Clubbers are not spending more money, just taking more time to spend it.”

The board was told local police had objected to the extra hour because of concerns about the possibility of an increase in crime.

The board agreed to continue to the application for more information from police in Fife and West Lothian to be provided.