Stephen Walsh
An Aberdeen nightclub could become the first in the city to be open until 4am.
The Priory, in Belmont Street, has applied to change its business hours from 9pm-4am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The city council’s licensing board will now decide whether to approve the proposal.
The club, which is run by the Epic Group, is currently open from 2pm until 2am from Sunday to Thursday, and 3pm until 3am on Friday and Saturday.
If its application is successful, it would make the business the first in the area open until 4am at the weekends.
The company has also applied to open from 9pm-3am on Sunday through to Thursday.
Kevin McIntosh, operations manager at the Epic Group said: “People’s socialising hours have dramatically changed over the last few years.
“We believe sacrificing early hours for just one additional hour at night will be worth it. Our customers are frequently asking about us opening until 4am. We have no resident neighbours next to the Priory which is important when dealing with later licences.”
However, concerns have been raised by police who claim the extension would put added strain on officers patrolling the nearby area.
Police estimate, that on a busy night, more than 900 people could leave the premises at 4am.
The licensing board will make a decision on the application in the coming weeks.