Killer high heels should no longer pose a risk to revellers at a popular Highland nightspot.
Late licence rules barring an exit from a rear door of Sunny’s Sports Bar in Fort William had left late night customers – especially those in less than comfortable shoes – a testing departure that involved climbing two staircases and descending another in order to reach an alternative way out.
In securing an extended licence at talks yesterday in Inverness, the host Iain Rodger convinced the council’s licensing board that customer safety was paramount.
He was successful in his application to extend the Middle Street bar’s Saturday licence to 2am.
And, explaining the complexities of exiting the building, he said: “When the licence was granted to the previous occupiers, which was a nightclub, we couldn’t use the back door after 1am because of noise restriction. Since then, it’s changed to a bar and we don’t have noise.
“I’ve been at the premises for six months and talked to the neighbours to see if there’s any noise because, late at night, I have to use the front door which means ladies in heels have to go up two flights and down one flight of stairs.
“I think it’s just an accident waiting to happen, sooner rather than later. So, I’d like to have the rear door entrance ’til 2am.”
Council officials confirmed that no recent complaints had been received about noise and that it was “a case of how we balance the public nuisance issue.”
Local councillor Allan Henderson considered the re-evaluation “a sensible thing to try, albeit it for a trial period.”
Licensing board deputy chairwoman Maxine Smith sought legal guidance before confirming that the licence extension was granted and that the situation would be reviewed if necessary in future were local residents to complain about any late noise.