A SPORTS bar has been given the go ahead to open at a city centre venue which has been closed for closed for almost a year.

Players Bar, which has clubs in Newcastle, Sheffield, Leeds and Birmingham, was granted a licence to operate at the former Loveshack club, in Durham.

A Durham County Council licensing committee heard that the £750,000 investment would create 61 jobs at the Walkergate venue.

Following objections from residents and Durham Police, the club will not be allowed to open until 4am 15 times a year and will have to stop playing music at 2am, rather than 2.30am.

Sidegate residents John Metson and Christopher Plummer and Esther Ashby, who lives in the Claypath area, all objected.

Mrs Ashby, representing St Nicholas’ Community Forum, said: “There’s already a problem in this area, and we would ask you to take on board that this is affecting people’s health.

“I personally have had eight hours sleep in the last 48 hours and I’m not unusual. This is happening throughout this area

“The idea of being woken up at 4.30am more than once a month, in the middle of the week, is awful.”

The applicant said its alternative to open late, applying for a temporary event notice (TEN), was unsuitable.

Stephen Mooney, solicitor for Durham Police, said the TENs process was “ample” and 4am opening would have an adverse impact on residents.

He said: “4am is beyond the licensing policy, beyond what other premises have and will have an adverse impact on residents. You have heard about what they’re having to endure.

"The TENs process exists and is ample.”

Tim Shield, a solicitor for the applicant, said the venue was part of a leisure complex in the city centre.

He said: “This is not a residential area and that is an important thing to bear in mind. It’s a city with a student population. Student populations are required to act appropriately and they are responsible for their own actions.

“Premises do not have responsibility in relation to how anyone acts away from their licensed premises.”

He added it would be unviable if the premises was not granted a licence to 2am.

Nearby Wetherspoons and Missoula also have permission to open until 2am.

The applicant had to get a new licence because the previous one lapsed in October. The venue has been closed since August.