FOUR days of celebrations are planned for the coronation in North Ayrshire this May with pubs and clubs being invited to apply for extended hours as revellers let their hair down.

Members of the licensing board on Monday agreed to allow premises to apply for extended hours or an occasional licence on the occasion of the crowning of King Charles III.

Acting chairman Cameron Inglis said: “The coronation must be treated as an exceptional event as it’s the first one in 70 years.

"It will be an absolute party in North Ayrshire.”

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Councillor Cameron InglisCouncillor Cameron Inglis (Image: North Ayrshire Council)

Police have no objections to the extensions although NHS Ayrshire & Arran had suggested to the board that the extra hours should be on only one day.

Licensing officials said that could mean people would undermine the health objective in that people who were in a bar which closed early would go to one which did not have a food offer.

Normal opening hours are at 11am and board members said it should stay that way.

Board member Christina Larsen said: “We should keep it the same as Marymass.”

If a pub normally has licensed hours commencing at 11am on a Saturday and ending at 1am on Sunday, then the policy allows it to apply for extended hours so that it could stay open from 11am on Saturday, May 6 until 2am on Sunday, May 7 and until 1am on the morning of Monday, May 8.

Pubs and restaurants with 2am closing times on Thursday to Saturday and 1am Sunday to Wednesday can apply for extensions, along with nightclubs which close at 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2am on Sundays. 

Clubs which close at 2am seven days a week can also apply for a licence.

Occasional licences could be given to unlicensed premises like community centres or outside unlicensed premises.

Councillor Donald L Reid said people holding street parties had to apply for road closures.