A nightclub’s bid to extend its opening hours has been refused after police raised concerns about the owner’s ability to operate three town centre venues and “contempt for the law” after receiving 175 parking tickets.
James McDonald had applied to Durham County Council to increase the opening hours of K2 and The Union in Consett until 3:30am.
The Front Street venue is currently allowed to stay open until 2am, with the nearby venues, Chaplains and Singers, being allowed to open until 3am.
But a Durham County Council licensing committee refused the latest application amid concerns over increased anti-social behaviour from the police.
Durham Constabulary said the venue’s licence is currently suspended due to non-payment of license fees.
In a report to the local authority’s licensing, Sergeant Caroline Dickenson said: “James McDonald shows a flagrant disregard for parking laws and the necessity to pay business rates on his three businesses. The chasing of these debts has cost the local authority considerable time and money, and as such leads me to question his credibility and fitness to be a licence holder and designated premise supervisor.
“I would argue that someone who shows such contempt for the law cannot be relied upon to uphold it in their premises, and these findings raise serious doubts as to whether he should have a premises licence, never mind extra hours.”
The force said Mr McDonald, who is also the licence holder of the venues Chaplains and Calamity’s, would be “stretched” by managing all three businesses at the same time.
Sgt Dickenson added: “How can the applicant guarantee or provide confidence that the licensing objectives are being upheld when, after 10pm, he would have to be in three places at once?”
Mr McDonald said he plans to turn The Union into a karaoke bar and reopen K2 as a nightclub in 2026.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr McDonald said: “We are disappointed with the outcome and the decision of the council hearing. We have taken on board the comments of the council committee and Durham Constabulary and will make any changes or improvements accordingly.
“We also won't be disheartened and still plan to reopen the venue with a sight to turn The Union into a designated karaoke bar for the town, even with the slightly earlier licensing time of 2am in early 2026, with the hope to look to reopen K2 as a nightclub later in the year.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank both Durham police and Durham County Council for their time regarding this matter.”
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