Resistance to an Angus nightspot’s expansion plan has been described as “disappointing.”
Chalmers Nightclub in Arbroath applied for a variation of its venue licence to allow under-18s in certain areas, and for an extended late alcohol licence.
These permissions dovetail with new enterprises such as a 100-seater cinema and restaurant.
However, a number of clauses were inserted into its application by Angus licensing board, following Police Scotland and council objections to later opening hours on Friday and Saturday.
Proprietor Andrew Henderson said not opening later at the weekend 3am instead of 2am leaves Angus clubs unable to compete with their Dundee neighbours.
But plans are still in place to offer a stage for touring bands and performers, now an under-18s licence is in place.
“We will still be able to offer the cinema and I just received building consent today (Friday) to allow us to use the existing 100 seats for that purpose,” he said.
“I am disappointed we didn’t get the later hours because all the elements of the business would help pay for each other.
“We need to see support from the local authority to stop money heading from Arbroath to Aberdeen and Dundee at night.
“People don’t want to come to Angus and see the last thing with its lights on is a Tesco.”
Mr Henderson was represented at Thursday’s Forfar board meeting by Andrew Williams, who said opening a nightclub for eight to 12 hours a week is “no longer viable” for a night-time business in direct competition with hybridised pub-clubs and entertainment venues.
He also said standard alcohol licences, operational in Angus to 2am at the latest, mean businesses cannot make enough money to meet costs.
“It doesn’t mean that people are out drinking for longer, it just means they are later,” he added.
Among the conditions to the licence were an undertaking to cease under-18s events by 11.30pm and stewarding for adjacent areas during these events.
Police Scotland’s submission to the board asked that the 3am extension was not granted.
It stated: “Although the premise is not situated in a residential area, the additional hour allows for additional drinking time, evidentially this is associated (with an) increased likelihood of anti-social behaviour.
“Analysis in other areas within D Division (Tayside) has shown that the additional hours lead to increases in violence and anti-social behaviours. The potential for this clearly has an impact on the policing resources within all local policing areas.”