A LATE night bar in the centre of Darlington has applied to change its licence to allow it to stay open later into the evening.

The application to vary the licence terms of Avalon, based in Blackwellgate, will be heard by Darlington Borough Council’s licensing committee on Monday, January 28, at 9.30am.

Licence holder David Johnson has applied to extend the bar’s opening hours from 9am to 2pm, seven days a week, which would allow it to serve breakfast and morning coffee. The condition that allows alcohol to be sold from 11am would remain.

Avalon’s current opening hours are 11am to 12.30am, Monday to Friday; 11am to 1.30am Friday and Saturday and 11am to 11.30pm on Sundays.

The application also requests that the condition limiting the maximum occupancy to 110 people is removed.

Representations from Durham Police and the Environment Agency have been submitted to the licensing committee, raising concerns about public nuisance due to noise levels and overcrowding.

In response, an agent working on behalf of Avalon has submitted evidence showing that the geography of the premises means that music from the bar does not cause a nuisance to near neighbours.

Councillors can grant the application in full, grant it with additional conditions, or reject all or part of the application.