Hotels ‘abusing’ theatre licences to sell alcohol until 5am

HOTELS and theatres are getting around closing times by using late-night theatre licences to sell alcohol up to as late as 5am.

Official figures show there has been a 30% rise in the number of theatre licences issued this year.

A total of 98 licences have been granted in 2008, compared with 76 in 2007, 76 in 2006, 68 in 2005 and 63 in 2004.