A SEAFRONT bar has won a bid to sell alcohol up to 4am for a TV boxing bout – despite police objections.

Port of Call, in North Terrace, Seaham, recently lodged a bid with Durham County Council for a temporary event notice (TEN) to allow it to screen the Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr broadcast from Madison Square Garden this weekend.

Taking into account time differences, the bout is set to run into the early hours of Sunday, June 2 in the UK.

Durham Police had objected, raising concerns about up to 100 people exiting the venue at closing time, noise disruption and anti-social behaviour.

Insp Rachel Stockdale said she had no issue with the venue’s record, but had concerns over the increase in drinking hours and the screening of the Champions League final earlier in the day.

She added: “Personally, I have to speak on behalf of the community and the community do not support a 4am closure because of the noise, public nuisance and fear of crime and disorder that can be associated with this."

“We know the unpredictability of such events and a TEN is designed within the licensing for legitimate community events – it’s a soft touch to licensing – it’s not seen as an opportunity to extend licensing hours for drinking.

“They were designed to benefit the community but I feel on this occasion this benefit is for the minority not for the majority.

“The majority will suffer.”

Applicant Adam Dickman, of Port of Call, said the application was made in response to requests from customers and boxing fans.

The meeting heard that the venue would employ licensed door staff, make the event ‘ticket-only’ and had spoken to taxi firms which agreed to open late to meet demand.

Mr Dickman added that people watching football earlier in the day would have to leave the venue before the boxing event starts.

With a similar approach to events in the Sunderland Port of Call branch, he explained, this would create “distance” between drinkers and those attending the late-night event.

However, committee chairman, Jan Blakey, raised concerns about the potential of the event running over and finishing past 4am.

“There’s no plan B,” she said.

Mr Dickman told the meeting that guidance from broadcast provider Sky indicated the fight would be finished by 4am.

He added people would be let out of the venue in a phased way – when transport is available – to minimise disruption.

“We’re not just shoving one hundred people out into the street and letting them fend for themselves,” he said.

“We will let a couple of groups out (at a time) so at least everyone is not dispersing at once.”

Following discussion, the Special Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee gave the green light to the TEN.

They said they were reassured by the event being ticketed, but requested that if any incidents take place, they are logged and passed to the police.