A Brighton nightclub wants to be able to allow one and a half times the number of revellers in.

The Concorde 2, on Madeira Drive is applying to Brighton and Hove City Council to have its premises licence change to increase their capacity from 450 to 620.

Club boss Russell Haynes said there would be no changes made to the Victorian seafront building but extra partygoers could safely be accomodated in the back stage areas and chill out room.

He added: “This way would be able to allow more people in on club nights.

“There is already room inside for that many people, it is merely a case of formalising it on the licence.”

The club also wants to be allowed to serve alcoholic drink on nights when under 18s are allowed in.

Mr Haynes said: “We don’t want to become an over 18s venue.

“It is not about putting children at risk, but we want to encourage young people to get into music.

“We had Adam Davis play here at the weekend and he’s only 14.

“If our licence was changed we wouldn’t be able to encourage young talent like that.”

But police licensing officers have expressed concerns that children could be put at risk by a change in the rules.

Sussex Police have demanded that the club should not be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages in the second room on nights where juveniles are allowed in and only driving licences and passports should be allowed as acceptable proof of age.

Police licensing officer Rebecca Wells said: “Sussex Police wish to make representations in respect of this application on the grounds of protecting children from harm.

“The applicant has made a formal application to amend their licence conditions.

"Some of these directly relate to the premises holding events where alcohol will be served and consumed and there will be underage children.”

Police said they want the club to hire security staff to check youngsters are not getting adults to buy drink for them and the club would have to inform police and the council at least seven days before allowing under 18s in.

The council’s licensing committee will make a decision about whether the club should be allowed to change its licence at a meeting of the licensing panel on Monday.