A nightclub’s request to open until 3am is “totally unnecessary”, according to the police. 

K2/ Union in Consett, County Durham, has applied to extend its opening hours but faces opposition from Durham Constabulary.

The Front Street venue is currently allowed to stay open until 2am despite the nearby venues Chaplains and Singers being allowed to open until 3am. 

Durham County Council’s licensing committee will consider the request at a meeting next Tuesday (October 22).  

Durham Constabulary warned extending the Front Street venue’s opening hours could threaten public safety. 

A statement read: “Durham Constabulary feels that there are more than sufficient premises open until 3am to facilitate the members of the public out at that time of the morning.  All three premises are within 50 metres of each other.”

K2/ Union owner James McDonald is also the licence holder of Chaplains and Calamity’s, also in Consett. 

The Chaplains and K2 venues were closed in 2021 after “incidents of disorder and public safety that required significant intervention from Durham Constabulary.” Both later reopened with reduced opening hours, but Chaplains has returned to staying open until 3am. 

Durham police added: “Due to the closure of another 3am premises in 2024, it appears Chaplains has the monopoly of late-night revellers and Durham Constabulary feel that the addition of another 3am licence is totally unnecessary.”

The force claims it made an arrest following an incident during an event when K2 was allowed to stay open until 3am in March. 

“This is the first ‘snapshot’ of both premises being open and run by the applicant and his staff until 3am,” the statement added. “Subsequently an incident occurred during that notice that required police attendance and an arrest being made. 

“Durham Constabulary notes that all three premises are licensed well beyond the recommended framework hours and would suggest the requested extension to the licensable hours of K2/Union goes against the hours set out in the policy.”

K2/ Union is currently able to stay open until 2:30am on Boxing Day and bank holidays. 

Meanwhile, Durham County Council’s Environmental Protection Team also warned of the impact the extended opening hours could have on people’s wellbeing. 

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The statement, submitted ahead of the meeting, read: “The addition of an extra hour on the overall opening times will impact local and wider communities. Not only due to the audibility of the human voice due to inebriated people being face to face with other drunken people but to the wider environment are arriving home be it by taxi or other means.  

“This erodes away into hours associated with Consett’s night-time economy and to the wider area. This in turn impacts on takeaways being open or wishing to open longer into what is a reasonably mixed residential area.”

The licensing committee will consider granting or refusing the request or altering the licence next Tuesday. Representatives from K2/ Union are due to speak at the hearing.