THE owners of a Kent nightclub are appealing against a council committee's decision for the premises to close earlier.

The committee has ruled that, for a trial period of three months, Rivals nightclub in Queen Street, Deal, would remain open until 11pm Sunday-Wednesday and until 1am Thursday-Saturday. Rivals now closes at 2am at weekends.

The district council’s licensing committee amended the opening hours after hearing evidence of excessive noise and police logs relating to other disturbances.

But council licensing officer Tony Bartlett said the new hours of opening would not be enforced until the appeal is heard.