A SPORTS bar in Bournemouth town centre has plans to stay open into the early hours.

Felsons in Old Christchurch Road currently closes at midnight seven days a week, but owners now want to keep it open until 3.30am.

Intertain Limited has submitted an application to vary the existing premises licence.

It requests the on-and-off sales of alcohol, the showing of sports, and the playing of recorded music until 3am each night.

It also seeks a closing time of 3.30am with late-night refreshments available until that time.

A condition of the existing premises licence would also need to be removed to allow for the proposed hours.

A decision is yet to be made on the application, and it will remain open for public consultation until Thursday, October 26.

It has been a year of change for Felsons, with the bar having closed for five weeks during the summer for a revamp.

In a Facebook post shared ahead of its official re-opening on Thursday, September 7, Felsons said it was coming back “stronger and better than ever” and was bringing back the “amazing sports atmosphere”.

If its latest request for a 3.30am closure is approved, Felsons will join neighbouring nightclub Popworld in staying open into the early hours.

Popworld officially opened in Old Christchurch Road on Thursday, September 7, having moved into the former Walkabout venue. The club, known for its cheesy pop tunes, is open until 3am seven days a week.

But while Popworld has been allowed to stay open late, not all businesses in Old Christchurch Road have had the same success with premises licence applications.

Earlier this year, an application was rejected for the former Sprinkles gelato site, which had been earmarked for a Premier convenience store.

Dorset Police objected to the application, suggesting a premises licence could fuel "alcohol-related" crime in the town centre.

At the time, the county force said the area "already experiences a disproportionate number of street drinkers, anti-social behaviour and crime”.