A town centre pub in Otley is seeking permission to keep serving until at least 3am for six days a week.

The Red Lion’s current licence allows it to sell alcohol up to 10.30pm on Sunday, 11pm from Monday to Wednesday, midnight on Thursday, and 1am on Friday and Saturday.

But the Kirkgate bar has applied for changes that, if approved, would see it serving until 3am, Monday to Thursday, and until 3.30am on Fridays and Saturdays, with Sunday serving extended until midnight.

Landlord Kevin Jones said: “We’ve got a dance area upstairs at the moment and the idea is to develop it as a nightclub. We’ve got the planning permission in and it’s going through building regulations now.

“I think there is a demand for later nights in Otley but at the moment anyone who wants that has to go elsewhere. Hopefully this will keep them in town for the night.

“I know there will be some objections but we’ve got door staff and sensible systems in place to control the noise and things like that, so I expect to work with anyone who complains to solve any problems that may arise.”

The licence application is being considered by Leeds City Council’s licensing department, which is accepting comments and can be contacted by e-mail, at entertainment.licensing@leeds.

gov.uk, or by calling (0113) 2474095.