MORE than £100,000 is being spent at an Irvine nightclub as part of a major expansion.

Plans to turn a currently unused area at Pitchers on Bank Street and turn it into a function room came before North Ayrshire Council's licensing board on Monday.

Owner John Duncan's agent, Andrew Hunter, said: “This is a tidying up in terms of the operating plan.

“The main proposal is to take an area of the premises currently described as a void and turn it into a function room area to provide functions and an area of the premises would be set aside for that.

“There is a request for children and young persons into the premises for privately booked functions in relation to that area.

“This is a six-figure investment by the applicant and a big improvement in terms of what is offered in terms of facilities.

“A second main request is to bring the nightclub hours down to 2pm to accommodate events and functions but there is no suggestion they would trade from 2pm until 2.30am.

"It is for an event during the day, and if you are a fan of social media you will have seen there is a phase for 30-plus discos taking place at that time.

“There would be a close down gap and the nightclub will trade thereafter. It is for separation of events."

Three new jobs will be created through the changes.

The agent added: “Mr Duncan tells me even without advertising the existence of the function room, the jungle drums are beating and local word on the street resulted in people knowing he is looking to do this and he has already got substantial requests for bookings for private functions.”

Licensing officials were very complimentary of the owner’s plans during a visit to the premises, Mr Hunter added.

The variation was unanimously granted by the board.