Councillors will decide on Friday whether to grant a late licence to a rural Baildon restaurant – which some residents fear would turn it into more of a nightclub.

Robin Sheldon wants permission to keep Ghyll Beck Restaurant, at the driving range of the same name off Esholt Lane, open until the early morning. He has a licence to play music and serve alcohol at the venue until midnight, but if his latest application is successful it could be extended until 2am.

With its current license, the venue is only allowed to stay open so late a few nights a year.

Mr Sheldon said: “The extension is due to the business being more a licensed wedding venue rather than a restaurant as it was some years ago. Our customers are wanting to get married later and hold their events later. It is a more European drinking culture, we feel, these days.”

He says the remote location of the club will mean its impact on neighbours will be kept to a minimum.

Bradford Council’s Shipley licensing panel will debate the extension at a meeting on Friday at City Hall, Bradford.

But the plans have come under fire from a number of Baildon residents.

Ten objections have been received, and although they have been kept anonymous, they are all from people who live in the area around the club.

One said: “It would cause disturbance in the early hours due to the music and people, in particular the young, who have no regard for the noise they make while others are sleeping.”

Another said: “If the application of a 2am licence was to be granted I would be concerned this would be used more as a nightclub than a rural golf range and wedding venue, which is within keeping of the rural community.”

Another fears that the late licence would attract “intoxicated out of towners.”

But Mr Sheldon argues the longer hours would cut down on binge drinking and says: “Most of our events are weddings with a more sedate calibre of clientele.”