The Palace Theatre, Westcliff, could soon be serving alcoholic drinks after 11pm - if managers get their way.

Its bosses are looking to extend its licence to midnight if they are holding a function or entertaining sponsors.

At the moment the theatre has to apply for a special licence or stop serving alcohol at 11pm, which chief executive Andrea Montgomery said could be "embarrassing".

"We are not looking to turn the Palace into a pub and we are not looking to have a late licence every night. What we want is to be able to serve guests drinks until midnight if we want to," she added.

Published Monday, March 25, 2002