A city centre snooker hall says its application for a new licence to stay open until 3.30am is being held up due to unfair objections by police.

Cousins Snooker and Pool Club in Lower Bridge Street, Canterbury, currently closes at 2.30am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and 3.30am the remaining nights.

But owner Ali Gun is applying to extend his hours to 3.30am every night, with the provision to be allowed to serve alcohol until 3am.

He says it is so people working late at night in pubs and restaurants have somewhere to go when they finish their shifts.

“It’s for late-night workers,” he said. “We’re not trying to be a nightclub.”

But Mr Gun claims the application has been put on hold due to concerns raised by police.

In 2013, an application for the club to serve alcohol until 6am and stay open until 6.30am was rejected by the licensing committee on Canterbury City Council.

A further request by Mr Gun just months later, this time to serve alcohol until 4am and close 30 minutes later, was also turned down.

Both were rejected – and the existing hours kept in place – due to concerns by police and neighbours that it would become a late-night drinking venue.

“I’m the only place in town to show UFC, which is a violent sport, and we show boxing, but we’re never any trouble...” - Ali Gun

Mr Gun disagrees, saying he simply wants to stay open later to cater for late-night workers.

He says it is a members’ club with strict controls on who comes in.

“I’ve been here six years and there’s been no more than 10 call-outs by police,” he said.

“I’m the only place in town to show UFC, which is a violent sport, and we show boxing, but we’re never any trouble.”

The club is on the first floor of a block of commercial properties, with pool and snooker tables and a bar and seating.

According to the council there has been a police objection but no details were included in the licencing documents.

A licensing hearing due next Tuesday at the city council has been adjourned although no date has been set.

A police spokesman said: “Kent Police have made an objection for an application by Cousins Snooker and Pool Club to extend its opening hours.

“The details of this objection have been explained to the owners of the premises in full and concern how the premises is managed in line with its current licence.”