Following a prolonged campaign to extend opening hours, 10 Glasgow nightclubs have been given the green light to remain open until 4:00 am by the local council. The decision comes after a pilot scheme was launched in 2019 and the period to enrol was extended due to the pandemic. The licensing board made the announcement to grant the extended opening hours to downtown nightclubs, including Sub Club, which opened its doors for the first time in 1987.
The 10 clubs that have been granted the extended opening hours are Berkeley Suite, Savoy, Bamboo, Polo Lounge, AXM Club, The Cathouse, The Garage, Tropicana & Vogue, Kokomo, and Sub Club. Councillors heard from licensing officials and Police Scotland to make their decision. The decision-making process looked at the planned 12-month pilot period through 2019.
The licensing board spokesperson stated that “a pilot of 4:00 am closing for city-centre nightclubs began in 2019 but was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.” The officials agreed to extend the pilot to permit the understanding of the impact of extending opening hours for the ten clubs involved in the scheme. The scheme was available to licence holders who could demonstrate a high standard of operation.
In 2018, Councillor Matt Kerr expressed his concerns regarding the policy. He said that there was a “strong view” on the decision because the council wanted to “support the licensed trade” while guaranteeing the “safeguards expected of us by the licensing legislation.” However, after several rounds of discussions, the council has granted the clubs the licence to remain open until 4:00 am.
The pilot was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and officials continued to evaluate the situation. After hearing from operators, police, licensing standards officers, and health officials, the licensing board has considered the impact of the pilot. The decision to grant extended opening hours has been welcomed by several stakeholders in the city’s nightlife sector, who believe it will boost the industry’s sustainability
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