A GREEK restaurant in Glasgow City Centre has been given permission to open till 1.30am at weekends and act as off-licence.

The basement of Halloumi, on Hope Street, will also be used to host Christmas parties and other events throughout the year.

The owner appeared before Glasgow City Council’s licensing board on Friday, December 14.

Representative Robert Morton said: “My client runs many small businesses throughout Glasgow. He took over Halloumi, which used to be a bistro, and turned it into a Greek restaurant.

“This has proved to be very popular as it is very busy.

“We want to change the terminal hour and use the basement as an overflow restaurant area.

“The plan is to open at 11am on a Sunday but would like to extend our opening hours until 1.30am during the weekends. .

“My client also wants to act as an off-licence and allow customers to take home bottles of wine with a screw top or allow them to buy an unopened bottle.

“At the moment he does not intend to deliver alcohol but that may be something we look into in the future provided the customer orders a meal.

“We want to allow young people onto the premises until 10pm provided they are accompanied by an adult.

“Unaccompanied under 18s will only be allowed in until 8pm.”

Halloumi recently opened a new restaurant on the South Side.