The new owners of a city centre pub have been granted permission to stay open until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Globe Bar, on Niddry Street, shut its doors at the very start of this year, with Encore pub group – behind Freddy’s, the Boston Bar and Westside Rodeo – taking over the bar.
Its new owners said they would aim to keep the sport and live entertainment offering which the Globe Bar had provided before they took over.
The proprietors said there would be a “smooth, low-fuss” transition for regulars and staff, with an earlier statement saying they planned to be open again by February 2026.
Encore applied to the Licensing Board in a bid to open the Globe from 12 noon until 3pm daily, a change from the current opening hours of 9am to 1am.
Their olicitor, Niall Hassard, said: “It’s really Boston Bar which forms the blueprint for what they’re proposing here on Niddry Street, in terms of the vision.
“What they want to do is offer good food and all the sports throughout the day, and then a very strong live music offering across the evening until closing time.”
He added that the bar’s new owners wanted to have children able to attend events or eat on the premises until 9pm, and young people until 11.
Cllr David Key asked why the venue wanted to stay open until 3am, when the Boston Bar closes at 1am.
Mr Hassard said that the setting was different, and the Boston Bar is in less of a late-night entertainment area.
He added: “They find that people are leaving Boston Bar begrudgingly at one o’clock. It’s not like people are wanting to go with the live music going.
“So I do believe that desire is there for people to remain with that style of entertainment, as opposed to being shuffled off to a nightclub-style environment.”
Police resources
Earlier in the meeting, a Police Scotland representative said late night venues on Niddry Street required a significant amount of policing resources.
Cllr Chas Booth asked Mr Hassard about whether the late opening would cause further impact on the street.
Mr Hassard said that the applicants were experienced in operating venues in areas with a significant amount of late-hours trading.
He said: “Having it in an area which is an existing hub, I think in my submission, is a good thing.
“We’re not talking about massive capacity. It’s 300 at its fullest. You’ve got Hive, you’ve got Banshee, you’ve got Three Sisters.
“I don’t think this is enough in terms of addition to cause any significant problem, especially with experienced operators.”
Responding to another question by Cllr Booth, Mr Hassard said the venue would not be looking to change existing seasonal variations to the licence.
Cllr Key said he wanted the venue to keep its current licensed hours as a “trial period”, and have the operators come back later on for an extension.
Cllr Booth said he agreed with Cllr Key, and that he had concerns about allowing children and young people access without councillors being able to see the premises.
It had been established earlier in the meeting that, due to ongoing construction works, a visit would not be practical, but that video footage could be provided.
Licensing Board convener Cllr Louise Young suggested an interim position, that would mean the venue opens until 3am on Friday and Saturday for a trial period.
Additionally, children and young people would be granted access to the premises until 8pm on a daily basis.
The operators would be able to come back at a later date and apply for further hours after a time.
Councillors verbally agreed the position suggested by Cllr Young.
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter
