COLCHESTER’S historic town hall could be used as one of the town’s top entertainment venues.

Colchester Amphora Trading Ltd, a private firm owned and run by Colchester Council, has applied for a new premises licence to allow more events to be held at the town hall.

Basic options they have selected to be included in the licence are plays, films, indoor sporting events, boxing or wrestling, live music, dance performances, and the provision of late night refreshments and alcohol up until 2am.

A report to be discussed at the council’s licensing sub-committee on Wednesday said the aims are to “encourage desirable destinations for a wide range of age groups” and “diversity of entertainment throughout the town centre that appeals to a wider audience”.

However, Colchester Civic Society has raised concerns over the licence, suggesting alcohol only be served until midnight.

It added: “Further, the town hall being situated within the old town zone, note must be made of the special policy that has been put in place ‘having regard to the levels of crime and disorder and public nuisance experienced within it and the complaints received from local residents’.”

With the new licence, Amphora could look to use the town hall as a late night cinema or live music venue.

It could also be used as a “winddown”

or “chill-out” venue, or a family-friendly facility.

The company will not be encouraging any more late night takeaways, nightclubs or pubs.

The town hall already has a premises licence, but the hours requested in the new application are slightly different.

If agreed, it will be open for an additional hour in the morning every day, an additional two hours on a Sunday for regular entertainment, an additional hour each evening for refreshments, and an additional hour for the sale of alcohol on Mondays to Saturdays, with an additional three hours on Sundays.

An Amphora spokesman said: “The current application for a premises licence for the town hall will, if granted, give us flexibility to provide a wide and varied entertainment programme under the banner of Colchester Amphora Trading.”

He added the premises licence for Castle Park, which was approved in August, runs alongside one already granted to Colchester Council. Any events Amphora organises at the park will be covered under its own licence.