Five Liverpool city centre bars have been granted permission to extend their opening hours later into the night as people return to venues.
Pub Invest Group went before councillors earlier this month to convince them to allow a number of their premises across the city to stay for longer.
The plans had been heavily criticised by ward councillors both before and during the meeting, who said a shift to even later opening would be disruptive to neighbours.
However, documents published on the council’s website show that permission has now been granted for Einstein’s, Boston Pool Loft, McCooley’s, Lago and Dirty O’Shea’s to stay open for longer.
The exact closing times vary, with most now standing at 4am over the weekend as opposed to 2am or 3am previously.
Two other premises owned by Pub Invest Group, Sgt Pepper’s and SOHO, could also open later. Councillors have also considered applications for those premises but a decision has not yet been published for either.
When the applications were first proposed, ward councillor Steve Munby called them “madness”.
Speaking to the ECHO, councillor Munby said” “It’s really alarming to see these applications going in for an extension till 4am.
“I completely get the desire of the hospitality industry to recover from the impact of the pandemic, but this is madness.
“I remember the scenes in the autumn of large crowds of people leaving bars and clubs around Concert Square creating super-spreading events.”
Speaking at licensing hearings for the premises, fellow ward councillor Hetty Wood also voiced her opposition.
Currently, bars and other venues can only open outdoors under Covid restrictions but, if the current timetable is sustained, they will be able to reopen inside next month.
