A gay nightspot will be allowed to serve alcohol until 6am under relaxed new drinking laws.

The licence for Club Revenge is thought to be the latest granted for a public venue in Brighton and Hove.

The club, in Old Steine, originally wanted to allow nude dancing but withdrew that part of the application after complaints from police.

From November it will be allowed to stay open until 3am in the week, 5am on Saturday mornings and 6am on Sundays.

The club's management says the later opening hours will allow for a staggered exit of clubbers and reduce the chance of homophobic attacks.

Brighton and Hove City Council's licensing panel granted the application yesterday despite complaints about noise and late-night disturbance from people living in the vicinity of the club and from the Kingscliffe Society.

Graham Chainey, of Marine Parade, said: "The premises have for many years been a source of noise and public disorder in this vicinity. This extremely noisy club has shown scant regard for the welfare of local residents over the years and should not be allowed to extend its hours."

A spokesman for the Kingscliffe Society added: "The hours sought are very long, allowing for a continuous 17 or 18 hours for the sale of liquor at weekends and at the start of what is still an important religious occasion for many people.

"It is impossible for large numbers to vacate premises after having a good time without noise being generated."

He said the new hours would create a public nuisance.

Nicholas Perkins, a solicitor acting on behalf of club owner Stagfleet Ltd, said: "This is a long and well-established premises at the heart of the gay community.

"It is not a place which spills a lot of drunk people on to the streets at closing time.

"If there is a problem with noise in the area there are a number of other premises from which it could be emanating.

"My clients are satisfied they are not creating a noise nuisance."

Council licensing officer Colin Giddings said: "The premises has in the past been the subject of a noise abatement order but under the new ownership noise, particularly noise from music, has not been an issue."