A Broughty Ferry bar has won its long-running battle for a permanent weekend late licence but at a price.
The Fort Hotel in Fort Street can now open until 2am every Friday and Saturday, but will have to charge an entrance fee to any customers wanting entry after midnight.
Dundee City Council’s licensing board granted the licence with the condition after the application was remitted back to them following a successful legal challenge by the hotel.
The meeting heard from Diane Barnett, a resident of adjoining Brochtie Court, who was one of two people who objected to the application on public nuisance grounds.
She said: “Pub-goers shelter in the archway and we have had issues with vomiting and urination. We experienced a theft in the courtyard and damage to gates of the property.
“These may have been isolated incidents, but where there are additional late licences this could lead to further issues.
“If it opens until 2am what provision is there for taxis as the Dundee pubs and clubs come out later? Also for policing, there is a duty of care to patrons and residents.
“There are 13 other licensed premises in Broughty Ferry and this could set a precedent for them to also apply.”
Ken Glass, representing the Fort Hotel, said: “With regards to the theft and damage, this happened three years ago and there was a clear indication that the damage to the gate was from a visitor to Brochtie Court.
“The person could not get out and started kicking the gates. It was not a Fort patron.
“Likewise with the theft, someone was admitted to a premises in Brochtie Court and, seeking some kind of trophy, had taken it from the garden.”
Mr Glass said the archway was set back six or seven feet and “without doubt” people had sheltered there for “a variety of purposes.”
He said: “We recognised this could be a potential problem and the gateway was cordoned off during the evening, which was met with significant success.
“The hotel’s owner Mr Black will provide a solid gate with a new entry system, which will in effect block off the archway.
“Planning permission has been granted and the cost will be around £10,000. The gate will be substantial and the cost speaks for itself.
“In a previous application, nine out of the 13 Brochtie Court residents objected it is now only two. This is the way licensees should deal with problems, by nipping them in the bud.”
Mr Glass said no public nuisance concerns had been raised by Tayside Police or NHS Tayside and none of the hotel’s previous temporary 2am licences had resulted in any objections or reports.
He added that 1,100 signatures had been received supporting the application and that the hotel wanted to impose a 12.30am curfew.
He said: “We do not seek to attract the ‘disco trawl’, we ask for a 12.30 am curfew where no new patrons get in. We are asking for an additional hour for the people who are already there.”
The board granted the application on the grounds it imposed an entry fee after midnight rather than the 12.30am curfew.
Hotel owner John Black said: “I’m pleased we got it, but we didn’t want to charge our regulars but we will if that’s the only way we can get to 2am.
“We have had eight extensions a year and we have never had a public nuisance issue on any of these occasions we know we are good operators.”