A GLASGOW nightclub boss says plans which could allow city centre venues to stay open until 5am could kill nightclubs if it is given the green light.

Donald MacLeod, who owns the Garage and the Cathouse, said he would only support the project if the option of later hours was exclusive to nightclubs.

Glasgow’s Licensing Board has launched a consultation on whether to run a 12-month pilot scheme to allow ‘late night entertainment venues’, including pubs and clubs, to open till 4am.

The move could also mean that licensed premises are allowed to open until 5am on 10 days throughout the year including at Christmas, New Year and bank holidays.

Speaking to the city’s Local Licensing Forum, Mr MacLeod said: “I would be all for this if it was nightclubs only.

“There is a plethora of hybrid bars that are late night and are operating in the same way as nightclubs. They are able to do that because they are saying that there’s live music until 1am or 2am but what you find is that bands are packing up at 11pm.

“These places don’t have the same investment in security or training that nightclubs do. I want Glasgow to be progressive but also responsible.

“I lost a £3m unit in Aberdeen because the hours were getting extended.

“Most folk in the trade that I’ve spoken to don’t want it. Where are the resources for the police and the NHS? There is a big problem here.

“There’s nothing wrong with having proposals and pilot schemes but should we not have it firmed up more on public transport and on the resources before its put out there?

“It’s a wish list for some but for many in the trade they could do without the hassle.”

But Paul Cardow, who has been involved in the development of Broadcast, The Garage and the ABC said it is getting more difficult to define nightclubs.

He claimed opening the subway later and ensuring enough cabs on the road would have a bearing on whether any scheme would be a success.

He added: “The 4am closure is potentially good in certain areas in that it would stagger egress from the city and could make it feel more cosmopolitan.

“It will work if places are putting on quality entertainment. It can’t just be about people going out and getting blasted a little bit more.”

The consultation is part of a wider package of reforms being proposed, from reducing reliance on single-use plastic to tightening rules on restaurant opening hours.

During the European Championships in the summer, city centre pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels were able to apply to stay open for an extra hour.

Currently, the proposals for the extended hours are included in a draft policy statement, which could be dropped when the Licensing Board makes a decision later this year.

If the Licensing Board does push ahead with the pilot scheme, premises which can demonstrate that they make a positive contribution to the night time economy would be invited to apply.

Those businesses would need to show evidence that they have invested in safety and security measures, staff training and potentially would need to gain ‘gold’ status in the Best Bar None industry accreditation scheme.

Police Scotland confirmed that they would not oppose the pilot scheme.

And Mairi Miller, the council’s clerk to the Licensing Board, said: “The background is around the unique status of the city centre in that there is a feeling that it would be more appropriate to look at a European model where rather than a rush to finish drinks at 3am there is a gradual end to 4am.

“There’s a recognition that it wouldn’t automatically be given to existing late night premises.

“It’s looking at the premises that already show a commitment to operating responsibly.”

If approved the pilot scheme would be reviewed after 12 months with the views of both Police Scotland and the NHS taken into account.

The draft statement also includes proposals allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to remain on licensed premises until 11pm, with the curfew for those under the age of 16 being 9pm.

Members of the Licensing Board put forward the consultation after a study by the Moffat Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University found that the city’s night-time economy generates £2.16bn per year and supports 16,600 full-time jobs.

The consultation closes on October 5 and the final policy statement is expected to be published by the end of the year.