PLANNERS are being asked to approve extended opening hours for the Ivy Mill function suite in Port Glasgow town centre.
When permission was given for the former bank premises on John Wood Street at Princes Street to be used for functions, its hours were restricted to 9am to 6pm, Sunday to Thursday, and 9am to midnight, Friday and Saturday.
Ivy Mill have now applied to operate from 9am to midnight, Sunday to Thursday, and 9am to 1am, Friday and Saturday. The venue has capacity for nearly 250 people.
A statement submitted to Inverclyde Council officials explains: “The function room has been operating for just over a year, and during that time it has become apparent that there is a demand for the space to have longer opening hours and in particular, a later closing time.
“The daytime use tends to be that of catering for funeral parties, children’s parties and other daytime events. However, the applicant has been approached by a number of local organisations to provide a space during the evenings mid-week. These would be regular weekly meetings that would run throughout the year.
“These organisations are well established in Port Glasgow and require a function space that is within the centre of Port Glasgow and therefore easily accessible to the rail station and taxi stance opposite the venue, and close to public bus routes and within easy reach of parking which is available nearby.
“The night time use would also be for birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations, functions etc.”
The statement continues: “The adjoining Caledonian Bar is open until midnight on Sunday to Wednesday, 1.00am on
Thursday and 1.30am on Friday and Saturday.
“Given that the planning permission in effect gave permission for the bank to operate as an extension to the adjoining public house it makes sense for the function suite to benefit from more generous opening hours including later opening.
“It is worth noting that the applicant also owns a number of the flats above the bank so is mindful of the need to ensure that residents are not unduly impacted by noise and activities.
“The experience over the last year of operation, and the demands of potential customers has indicated that more generous hours and a modest extension of the late-night opening hours of the function room would be most beneficial both to the economic viability of the business but also to patrons using both facilities.
“As the units are linked, when a function is over, customers have the option of continuing their evening within the Caledonian Bar, so do not have to go outside only to come back into the bar. This will reduce activity, noise and potential disturbance outside the premises.”
The statement concludes: “In seeking to extend the operating hours the venue will provide the community with a quality facility capable of hosting a range of activities and functions throughout the week which will contribute to the vibrancy and vitality of the town centre providing a sense of place where community spirit can be generated and fostered.”
The proposal is pending assessment by council officials.
