A YORK bar has applied for 24-hour licensing in order to screen late-night sports fixtures.

The Terrace in Fossgate has applied for the licensing to enable it to open for televised sporting events scheduled between 2.30am and 8am such as rugby, boxing, Formula One motorsport and cricket.

If The Terrace is granted the extension by City of York Council it is understood the bar will still have to give notice to the licensing team to be able to hold late events. Paul Gardner, owner of The Terrace, said there was strong demand for a venue to screen such fixtures in York.

He said: “The plans are for sporting events like the Rugby World Cup and the next World Cup in Brazil.

“We missed out on the Ashes in Australia because there was not enough time for us to get the application through.

“We are not wanting to go through the night and cause havoc. It’s not to open all the time. People won’t be staying all through the night – they will be watching the event and then they will leave.

When the event has finished, last orders will be half an hour later.

“There’s nowhere in York showing these events which are on around the world.”

Mr Gardner said the venue may close and reopen before an event if it is given the go-ahead – for example, it could close for three hours before an event scheduled for 2am.

He added that support for the licensing bid would mean a boost for jobs.

The only other bar in York to be granted 24-hour licensing is the Artful Dodger in Micklegate, where under certain circumstances permission is granted by the licensing team, a council spokesman said.