County chiefs have approved an application for a new cinema in Durham to serve alcohol.

The decision means film lovers in the city will have beer, wine or any other refreshments on offer when they head to the new Odeon Luxe for the summer's blockbusters.

Licensing bosses gave the green light on Tuesday afternoon, despite fears about underage sales and noisy audiences disturbing people living nearby.

The picturehouse, part of the chain's 'premium' offering, is due to open on Wednesday.

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The licence means it will be able to open 9am - 1am Sunday - Thursday and 9am - 2am Friday and Saturday.

However, times for alcohol sales will be slightly shorter, available from 11am - midnight Sunday - Thursday and 11am - 1am Friday and Saturday.

As well as agreeing to the licence, Durham County Council's Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee imposed several other conditions, including:

  • Limiting 'off-sales' to an outdoor terrace area which cannot be used after 10pm

  • Displaying signs reminding customers to leave the premises quietly

  • Not disposing of glass bottles between 8pm - 9am

  • Only allowing other 'regulated entertainment' allowed by the licence, such as live music or dance, to compliment a film screening, rather than as entertainment in its own right

Concerns were raised at the committee's meeting on the application by City of Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, who was represented by her caseworker Nick Rippin, and Roger Cornwell, of the City of Durham Parish Council.

Setting out the MP's concerns, Mr Rippin said: "The applicant suggests the majority of customers will travel by car, but there is only one car park in the complex currently open.

"[That means] more pedestrians on the streets, a lack of public transport, more people queuing for taxis."

He added this would create "more nuisance for people living in the city centre".

Suzanne Davies, of Clifton Davies Consultancy, acting for Odeon, responded once building work was complete more than 700 parking spaces would be available nearby.

She also raised the possibility of discounted parking charges for cinema-goers.