A new "high class" Asian fusion restaurant will be allowed to stay open until the early hours, despite concerns from neighbours.

Sekkoya, which is poised to launch at the £115m Riverside development in Canterbury, has been given the go-ahead to serve food and alcohol until 2am every night of the week, except Sundays.

The owners had originally applied to the city council to open until 3am all week, attracting objections from local residents groups.

Some raised fears they would be disturbed by rowdy revellers every night of the week, regardless of how "posh" the restaurant would be.

But at a meeting of the authority's licensing sub-committee today, the slightly reduced hours were approved instead.

The company behind Sekkoya, Citi Riverside Holdings Ltd, says it will be a "special" and "upmarket" restaurant.

The directors, brothers Bhavin, Kirtan, and Nish Patel, also own the Canterbury bar and restaurant Citi Terrace, which they have run for eight years.

Arguing for the late-night licence, their barrister Sarah Clover told the committee: “Citi Riverside Holdings were approached by the letting agent for Riverside to say ‘would you be interested in opening a concept restaurant in Riverside?’

“The very last thing you would want would be for this brand new development [Riverside] not to take off in glory and not to be successful. The hours applied for are critical to that."

But vice-chair of St Stephen's Residents' Association Jennifer Holland outlined her objections to the bid.

She told the committee: “The Riverside development is located in a residential area and we feel it’s important that all of the tenants should take account of the convenience and requirements of local residents.

“Several residents confirmed that it can be extremely disturbing to have noisy groups of people outside their houses."

She said she and many other residents worried that late-night disturbances could be “exacerbated by what is planned at the Riverside,” and there could be disruption “every day of the week”.

Fellow member Ronald Waters added: “Over the years we have suffered from the nuisance caused by students, and others, and late-night drinkers.

“We’re not asking for much. All we’re asking is for the hours to be reduced, because however posh a restaurant is, or the clientele, it’s always a problem when they come out onto the street, and that’s demonstrated in Canterbury high street."

Mrs Holland said 10% of the association's 268 members had written to her to back its objections to Sekkoya's bid for a late licence, and that of BrewDog, which is also opening a venue at Riverside.

But Ms Clover disputed Mrs Holland's claim she was representing all members of the residents' association, adding: "If 10% of people maintain they are concerned about Sekkoya, it means 90% are not."

Her argument was questioned by licensing committee chair Cllr Ashley Clark, who replied: "I think it's wholly wrong of you to suggest that merely because other people have not made representations, they’re not concerned. We don’t know.”

“At best we have to say then that of the other 90%, we are speculating as to how they feel,” Ms Clover responded.

"However posh a restaurant is, or the clientele, it’s always a problem when they come out onto the street..."

Mrs Holland also raised concerns about the restaurant's capacity, and its application to offer “off-premises” alcohol sales, live and recorded music and dance performances.

Michael Kheng, a licensing consultant for the applicants, told the committee the “off-premises” sale of alcohol would allow diners to take home bottles of wine or champagne they don’t finish with their meals.

He added that the music would be purely ambient, and dance limited to small performances on special occasions and themed nights or private events.

Cllr Clark asked whether the restaurant would become a late-night bar due to its opening hours.

“I’m always conscious of the fact that when the wine is in the wit is out, and certain individuals will go anywhere that’s open for a drink,” he said.

Ms Clover told the committee: “If you want a cheap drink, there are other places to go.

“These operators don’t want loud and lairy people coming in."

A five-screen Curzon cinema has already launched at the Riverside development, and a licence has been granted for the BrewDog bar.

Plans for a Boom Battle Bar offering bowling, axe-throwing and table tennis in one of the 13 units have also been revealed, as well as Fireaway Pizza and Korean Cowgirl restaurants.

The licensing sub-committee approved the application, but reduced the requested opening times by an hour to 2am from Monday to Saturday.

The restaurant will be allowed to open until midnight on Sundays.