A SEVENTIES-THEMED bar which opened last year at the Weighbridge will now be allowed to stay open until the early hours.
The Melting Pot was founded at the end of last year by Brian and Stani Smith – the couple behind The Blind Pig speakeasy and Ce Soir.
The bar has so far held a first-category (taverner’s) licence, which required it to close at 11pm.
But this week the venue gained a seventh-category (entertainment) licence, which will permit later opening hours.
Following approval from the Licensing Assembly, Mr Smith said: “I’m particularly excited to be able to be able to turn around to my patrons who have asked for an extended stay in the evening time.
“Our biggest issue was people finishing dinner at 10.30pm or 11pm and wanting a drink, but we couldn’t let them in.
“Nowadays, people are just out later. It’s not like many years ago,” he said.
Mr Smith said that going into the summer, tourists would also form part of The Melting Pot’s clientèle.
His wife added: “We want to use local artists, particularly DJs, who have been trying to contact us. We couldn’t really accommodate them at the time.”
The conditions of the licence mean that the Melting Pot can, after 11pm, only serve alcohol if there is other entertainment in place, and only indoors.
