A specialist whisky bar has secured later opening hours.

Cut Your Wolf Loose can now serve alcohol until 11.30pm at its bar and shop in Trafalgar Street after a licensing panel hearing with Brighton and Hove councillors backed the company’s bid to extend its licence.

The business also secured permission for off-sales of alcoholic miniatures as part of cocktail-making sets and for craft beer.

And up to 15 customers can drink in the garden until 9.30pm.

During the virtual licensing panel hearing on Thursday 16 November general manager and “dram dealer” Paul De Newtown explained many customers missed out on the opportunity of an after-dinner drink due to the previous 10pm cut-off for alcohol sales.

The business also missed out on extended opening time for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee due to its earlier closing.

Cut Your Wolf Loose owner Sebastian Woolf told the panel – councillors Julie Cattell, Emma Daniel and Carol Theobald – the venue is unique to Brighton and possibly even the country, attracting visitors from around the world.

After securing the licence variation, Mr Woolf said: “We are delighted with the decision made by the panel to grant our application for variation to our current licence to increase opening hours.

“The fact that the panel recognised that we have not added to the cumulative impact in the area and that they believe we are an asset to the Brighton community has reignited my belief that independent businesses are extremely important to Brighton, its residents and the tourists that visit year on year.”