Pub and club owners in Dundee who took advantage of new later opening hours say they’ve seen an upturn in trade since the policy was introduced.
The council’s licensing committee adopted the scheme two years ago, which allowed pubs to stay open until 1am, “hybrid” venues until 2am and nightclubs until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.
The move sparked fears that the increased drinking time would lead to more trouble around city pubs.
Several of the first 20 watering holes across the city to apply for the extension said they have seen a marked improvement in custom since the decision was taken.
Jade Crossan, manager at Bush Bar on the Seagate, said: “It has had a very positive effect. We are busy right up until 1am.
“The staggering of the times for different types of bars works well too because other places nearby are open later and people can move on if they wish, or go home at 1am if they’ve had enough.
“We haven’t seen any increase in drunken incidents as a result of people being able to stay a bit later.”
The feeling was echoed by Ashley Fairfield, manager of Dexy’s Bar on Arbroath Road, who said the pub is bustling right up until closing time.
He said: “Business has been very good since we got the later licence.
“We’re busy until 1am but shut the music off at 12 to make sure people know we are closing soon but have plenty of time to drink up.
“We have never really had any trouble here and people are generally well behaved. That hasn’t changed at all as a result of opening later at weekends.”
Mike Portsmith, general manager at The Maltman on Mains Road, agreed that the late licence had helped custom but said there had still been a dent in takings.
He said: “We noticed a positive effect when it first came into play but other things have deterred people.
“We have a lot of regulars who work over the weekends and the police have been cracking down a lot on people driving the morning after they’ve had a few drinks.
“This has meant a lot of people won’t stay very late as they want to make sure they have nothing in their system the next morning.We are also very much a football pub so that has an impact on when people come in.”
The move to introduce later opening hours came after a consultation, which initially proposed clubs be allowed to stay open until 4am. However, this was later revised after concerns were raised by police and the NHS about the impact of later opening on public health and safety.
At the time of the decision, the community council for Broughty Ferry — where two of the pubs applying for late licences were based — were strongly against the policy.
The group accused authorities and landlords of wanting to “push past common courtesy in favour of commercialism”.
But Councillor David Bowes, a member of Dundee City Council’s licensing committee, suggested that on the whole the move had benefitted the city. He said:
“We have had no problems raised in front of the board regarding incidents related to the later opening hours and everything is still running smoothly.
“It is difficult to say how it has impacted people’s drinking habits, but the businesses are seeing more custom and we are not receiving any complaints, which can only be a good thing.”