THE Firstsite gallery could become Colchester’s First 24-hour venue.

Bosses at the £26million visual arts factility have applied for an open-all-hours premises licence for entertainment.

It would allow the venue to host events such as boxing and wrestling, as well as live and recorded music, dance and plays, and to show films.

Wayne Warner, commercial director of Firsite, said the organisation wanted flexibility for artistic and financial reasons when it opens in September this year. Mr Warner added: “The rationale is to keep the options open. It keeps the flexibility.

“It may never be open for 24 hours, but there may be some events where we want to.”

Permission could lead to midnight book signings, late-night screening of international boxing bouts or other events, as varied as arm wrestling championships or 24-hour charity events.

The auditorium at Firstsite will have 200 seats.

Mr Warner said: “Wouldn’t it be great to have a book signing with J K Rowling, followed by the new film. I am not saying we would do that, but it would be nice to be able to.”

He insisted residents living around the cultural centre would not be inconvenienced and their opinions were important, one of the reasons the site is only requesting a drinks licence until midnight.

He admitted the organisation wanted to maximise the income, after the high costs of the project.

He said: “In order for the business to be successful, we need to make sure we make the most of whatever we do.

“It is no secret it needs to make commercial revenue.”

Colchester councillor Tim Young said he did not blame Firstsite for trying, but doubted a licence would be granted with unlimited opening.

Mr Young added: “We didn’t support this project in the first place, but now we are getting it, they’ve got to find a way to make it pay.

“I would be interested to see what the police have to say about it for community safety reasons.”

Mr Young said he hoped the venue would offer a diverse range of entertainment for residents.

Colchester Council has the final say on the application.