TLT secures 3am licence extension for Hawick club

TLT has successfully secured a permanent 3am licence extension for Hawick nightclub Base, owned by Neil Gillies, director of Zing Enterprises Ltd. This will allow the club to stay open for an extra hour on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

The Scottish Borders Council’s Licensing Board granted a permanent variation to Mr Gillies’ licence at its hearing at the end of October 2016.

TLT’s Niall Hassard, licensing legal director, who represented the club at the licensing board hearing said: “I have worked with Zing Enterprises Ltd for a number of years and knew that securing the permanent extension to the licence was vital for the future of the business.

“Not only is this an exceptionally well run establishment but it also plays a significant role in the local community. Conveying to the licensing board the positive ripple out effect Base has through Neil’s involvement supporting charities, community groups and local causes was key to making out the case for an exception to policy.”

Mr Gillies said: “The disadvantage of the 2am closing time had taken me to the brink of losing the business, so this result is a massive relief. I really appreciate everything Niall has done in this case and he went above and beyond the call of duty. I am now optimistic about the future of the nightclub for the first time in years.”

This is not the first out-with policy 3am licence success for the TLT this year. In May 2016, the team secured a 3am licence for Glasgow nightclub The Shed, which, like Base, had had previous applications rejected.