A popular Edinburgh takeaway has made a plea to the council to allow them to have later opening hours after a series of knockbacks.
The Castle Rock chip shop at 87 Grassmarket have lodged a request with officials to be allowed to keep their doors open until 2am in a bid to keep up with competitors.
Known to be a busy spot for locals and tourists in the mood for a fish supper in the city centre, the venue are currently only permitted to open until 11pm.
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Submitting previous proposals for late-night hours, the takeaway have been denied the luxury in previous years due to concerns that it would “increase late night noise and activity.”
However, in their new request filed this week, the takeaway stated that since 2015, only three complaints have been made about the premises.
Surrounded by other food and drink venues, Castle Rock argued that neighbouring takeaway, Yum Yum Kebab, is open until 3am, and Bobby’s Kebab House at West Port, open until 2am.
Desperate to keep up with their competition, a planning statement read:
“The Grassmarket is not a quiet urban area, but a busy town centre with a significantly higher ambient noise level. It is more likely that the normal ambient noise levels maybe as high as 75db.
"The extension of opening by three hours will not result in a significant increase in noise levels experienced by neighbouring residents. A Freedom Of Information request was submitted to the Council in Jul 2022, and the response indicates very low levels of complaint since 2015.
"Many of the local licensed premises have extended their hours of opening since the chip shop opened, and a large percentage of the business comes from people leaving these premises, so there has been a fall in income, and the owners feel that they are being left behind.
"The proposed increase in hours will enable the business to operate more effectively in light of competition and expectations of customers. The viability of the unit is marginal as things presently stand. It is a facility that is needed at these extended hours in this location.”
You can find more information on the request here.
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