A "BOTCHED" application for a late-night drinks licence could scupper hopes of staging the UK Snooker Tournament at York's Barbican Centre next year.

The Festival of Remembrance could also fall victim after a three-day hearing to consider a licence extension until 2am - due to take place this week at York Magistrates Court - was abandoned.

The application had to be withdrawn because legal notices had not been posted correctly by the applicants and prospective centre operators, Absolute Leisure.

They will now make a fresh application, but magistrates said it could not be considered for another five months because the court was unable to accommodate another three-day hearing until next April.

Absolute Leisure boss Tony Knox said the delay could in turn delay the proposed refurbishment of the auditorium - potentially leaving the complex like a building site by next November, and unable to host the Festival and snooker tournament.

Magistrates turned down a company request for the hearing to be moved to the nearby Friends' Meeting House, which Absolute Leisure lawyers said could be hired out for three days in December or January.

However, Mr Knox revealed that the company would be considering returning to the court next month to apply for an earlier hearing date.

Festival of Remembrance organiser Ted Griffiths said he would be "very disappointed" if the Barbican would not be available for next year's event.

"It's the only place suitable to hold the festival," he said.

A spokesman for tournament organisers, World Snooker, said it would like to come back to York next year if possible.

"We like York. It's one of the best venues on the circuit - and that comes from both players and fans," he said.

More than 20 protesters, mostly local residents, had turned up at the magistrates court to object to the application, claiming that a late licence would cause them unacceptable late-night noise and disturbance, and were delighted by the hitch.

Ernie Dickinson, a leader of Save Our Barbican, the group campaigning against City of York Council's decision to sell the centre and grant planning permission for new flats, a hotel and a conference centre, said the turn-out showed the strength of feeling against late-night drinking in a residential area.

He said Absolute Leisure was to blame for the delay, as it had "botched" the application notices.

Edna Glowala, of Barbican Road, said she was "over the moon" at the decision.

"It's brilliant. We don't want all that late-night noise in a residential area." She said she hoped Absolute Leisure would pull out altogether.

But Mr Knox said: "There's no danger whatsoever of us pulling out."

He said he was confident Absolute Leisure would eventually win the go-ahead for the licence, as police had not raised any objections.

Updated: 10:03 Thursday, November 18, 2004