ANOTHER city centre theme pub has gained its place among the "select few" entitled to allow later night drinking at weekends.

McMillans Bar in Rougier Street has got an extension to stay open after the normal 11pm closing time on Friday and Saturday nights - joining two neighbouring hostelries.

Its sister bar Merlins, and Edwards Bar, owned by Bass, already have extended licences over the weekend. McMillans will now be open until 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Merlins has also been granted further extensions to its licence with permission to open until midnight on Sundays, and a spokesman for McMillans said it expected to follow suit over the next month. This follows the decision to allow night clubs the opportunity to open on Sunday evenings, bringing Sundays into line with all other nights of the week.

Thomas Frank, promotions manager at McMillans, said: "I believe these late licences are a great move forward for the people of York. Now people have more choice as to when they want to go home, be it 11pm, 12.30pm or after a club.

"These extensions prove that York has embraced the lifestyle changes that have occurred over the last decade. A Monday to Friday working week is no longer the norm and these new licences allow bars in York to cater for everyone equally."

Updated: 10:30 Saturday, June 16, 2001