Three nightspots have been granted a licence to extend their opening hours – despite objections from the police.
At yesterday’s meeting of Aberdeen Council’s licensing board, members voted in favour of allowing the Queen Vic, Soul, and McGinty’s Meal and Ale to keep their doors open later.
An application for Babylon to extend its hours was refused and, as a result, a similar application for The College Bar was withdrawn.
All five of the proposals faced opposition from the police, with written objections from Chief Constable Philip Gormley highlighting concerns over “alcohol-fuelled violence and disorder”.
McGinty’s will now remain open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, and will allow for live performances and dancing.
The Queen Vic, on Rosemount Place, will now be open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, and Soul on Union Street will be open until 1am from Sunday to Thursday – and until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Babylon proposal sought permission to extend the establishment’s opening hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 3am to 4am, but councillors voted against the change.
Stuart Clarkson is the owner of Babylon, The Queen Vic, College Bar and Soul.
He said that although he is disappointed the Babylon application was denied, his company PB Devco will try again in the future.
He said: “I’m happy with some of the council’s decisions, and I think it’s a step in the right direction.
“I’m not sure why Babylon wasn’t allowed, because McGinty’s was allowed, and they’re only across the road.
“We will probably make a new application soon.
“If we’re to attract people to the city of Aberdeen, we need to be up there with the rest of the country.
“Late licences are common in the likes of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and we need to keep up.”
Councillor Marie Boulton, the convener of the local authority’s licensing board, said: “Babylon was refused, but we did say that we are reviewing our policy, and we would love for them to come back around the table and discuss the matter.”
