Bosses want to keep “the liveliest venue in town” open until 3am - because they believe it will help stop rowdy drunks causing trouble on the streets.

Captain Jack’s in Herne Bay currently has to close at 12.45am on busy weekend nights, meaning customers wanting to continue partying have to look elsewhere.

Its owners have applied to Canterbury City Council to extend the opening hours, serve alcohol and play music to as late as 3am on Fridays and Saturdays - which, they argue, will help reduce “public disorder”.

Nejmi Hassan, who runs the seafront bar with his brother Hassan, told KentOnline: “It was just a popular request by lots of our customers who come in.

“It then saves them from leaving at quarter to one, which is the kick out time, and walking around the streets.

“We're hoping that if we stay open a bit later, then they'll go straight home from us, so hopefully we'll cut down some public disorder in town.

“By extending the hours, it will allow people to leave of their own accord because they've got more time to leave and, let's face it, most of the people don't want to be there till three o'clock in the morning.”

Mr Hassan acknowledges there have been incidents of violent crime near their bar - including a stabbing and machete attack in the past few years.

But he wished to highlight that none of these took place inside Captain Jack’s, and vowed to ensure security is robust if their hours are extended.

He said: “We are probably the liveliest venue in town. There aren't any other venues in Herne Bay that can accommodate as many people as we do. We have a DJ and it's quite a cool environment for everyone to be in.

“It’s the kind of place where everyone gathers and everyone meets, so yes, we have had a couple of publicised incidents, but that's literally it.

“We have a high level of door security. It's always three or four guys, whether we're busy or not - security-qualified agents that are on the door until we close.”

In papers submitted to the council, the Hassans say they have noticed customers leaving their Central Parade bar “as we close so early and go to another nearby venue which is licensed until 3am”.

The only late-night spot open till then in Herne Bay is Vivid, the town’s sole nightclub, located just 350 yards away in High Street.

“[We] have noticed that this causes rowdy behaviour on the streets between our venue and the other venue,” said the application.

But Vivid’s Nathan Ahmad is not convinced, accusing Captain Jack’s of “making up a fairytale in an attempt to convince the council”.

According to a Freedom of Information request to Kent Police, in 2024, officers were called out to Captain Jack’s 12 times, compared to six visits to Vivid.

Mr Ahmad said: “We could provide the past 31 days of our CCTV between half 12 and half 1, which is when customers of Captain Jack’s come to us and there's never any sort of clash.

“At the end of the day, Herne Bay's a small community town, everyone knows everyone.

“Them saying there'd be a reduction in crime and such things is laughable.”

A city council spokesman told KentOnline it was yet to receive any feedback from police or members of the public, and no calls to review Captain Jack’s licence had been made in the past.

The spokesman added: "If no representations are received by July 2, the licence would be granted. Kent Police and/or the council's licensing team may suggest additional conditions for the licence to make it more robust, and if this happens, they can be added voluntarily by the applicant.

"If valid representations are received during the consultation period, or if the premises does not agree to add any conditions put forward by the police and/or the council, then a hearing will be arranged, to be held within 21 days of the end of the consultation period.”