Border Telegraph | News | 3 a.m. late licence under threat

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 17th September, 2008 09:00

3 a.m. late licence under threat

By Ally McGilvray

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NIGHTCLUB bosses have warned they could be forced to close their doors altogether if they are forced to shut an hour earlier in future.

The Scottish Borders Licensing Forum, which has asked for a review of pub and club opening hours, insists there is no need for local nightspots to stay open until 3 a.m.

And, given the majority of clubs in the region only stay open until 2 a.m., it will demand the late licence reserved for the two nightspots in Galashiels, Move and Indigo, is suspended when it meets the Scottish Borders Licensing Board in Newtown St Boswells today (Wednesday).

It follows police concerns that drink-fuelled violence and disorder is putting an undue strain on the force’s resources.

However, with around 1000 students attracted to the area each year for its vibrant nightlife and dozens of businesses, from taxis to takeaways, relying on the late-night trade, fears have been voiced that it could lead to the lights being switched off in Galashiels.

Move boss Steve Cass told the Border Telegraph: “We would encourage the licensing board to look at a better option than the one proposed.

“Galashiels is the biggest town in the Borders and is considered by most as the capital of the Borders - it is not a sleepy little village. We have a large university campus in the town, at Heriot-Watt, and going out is part of student culture.

“In comparison to Edinburgh where clubs stay open until 5 a.m. at certain times of the year, we don’t think 3 a.m. is too late.”

Move has attracted some of the biggest names in the world of music to the Borders since it opened in Galashiels almost a year ago, including Big Brother beauty Kate Lawler, Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder and Mallorca Lee (see page 14) last week, and most nights have passed off trouble free.

He added: “Visitors are attracted to Galashiels from all across the Borders and beyond because of its vibrant nightlife. And, with businesses already suffering from the credit crunch, we feel the local authorities should be doing more to support them.”

Comments

Jolanta Nowak

Sep 17 08 18:58

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Yes sure, they really do need to force all their staff to work until 3a.m.

As if.

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G Gray

Sep 25 08 16:11

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There could be a solution and that is, keep the clubs open but stop serving alcohol at 2AM and only serve soft drinks for the last hour.

Keep the chip shop open for an extra half hour the owner wants this, if people are eating they are not causing trouble, this would also help clearing the taxi rank quicker

Make anyone who requires a taxi use the first one from the rank some still think the larger taxis cost more when they are on there own when every taxi is the same price for 1 to 4

Mind you the rest of the Uk has adopted (or is in the process of doing so) 24/7 opening but yet again the Borders has been left in a time warp or to coin the phrase an I been

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