PLANS to restore the Hippodrome have been given a boost after the venue was granted a drinks licence.

It will permit drinks to be served from 10am to 11.30pm daily, with up to 18 late-night events a year when the Grade II* listed venue can stay open until 2am.

Matsim Properties, the family business that owns the Hippodrome, in Middle Street, Brighton, applied to the city council for a licence as part of its wider business plan.

The company has also submitted a planning application to restore, renovate and extend the venue, adding an “apart-hotel”, a restaurant or café and bars and offices.

The centrepiece is the creation of a “multi-format performance space” in keeping with the history of the 19th century building.

But Matsim said a drinks licence was vital to ensure the plans would be financially viable.

The licence covers the proposed public bar and restaurant area, a private members’ cluartb and arts club as well as a planned outside terrace.

Matsim said director Simon Lambor, 32, would be the “designated premises supervisor”, with day-to-day responsibility for drink sales at the venue.

He attended a council licensing panel hearing with his father Andrew Lambor, 66, a fellow director.

They aimed to reassure councillors because the Hippodrome is in the heart of an area designated a cumulative impact zone (CIZ) where tougher licensing rules apply.

These reflect the council’s goal of trying to reduce high levels of crime and disorder in the area.

Despite those problems, Sussex Police did not object to Matsim’s licence application.

The licensing panel heard the company had spent a year working with the force and the council licensing team on draft conditions before submitting its application.

Sussex Police licensing officer Claire Abdulkader said the venue was in Regency ward which had the highest level of serious violent crime in the whole of Sussex.

Regency ward accounted for more than six per cent of all violent crimes dealt with by Sussex Police in 2020-21.

The licensing panel was mindful of the location of the venue in the CIZ. But the decision letter said: “The panel shares the view of the responsible authorities this application is unique and constitutes exceptional circumstances in relation to our policy on cumulative impact in that alcohol is ancillary to the operation of the premises as a restored entertainment venue.”

The Hippodrome, designed by architect Frank Matcham, was an ice rink when it opened in 1897 – 125 years ago. It became a circus, then a theatre and later a bingo hall, closing in 2006.