Latte-night cafe culture on the menu

CAFES and shops in the city centre would be encouraged to stay open later under new plans to create a continental culture and help tackle drink-fuelled antisocial behaviour.

A new report by consultants commissioned by the city council has found that more could be done to take advantage of the night-time economy and address the perception that the pub is the only place to go.

SQW Consulting found that companies that operate in the night-time economy employ more than one in every 10 workers and generate 1.5 billion a year of spending.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, said: "I would like to encourage a more relaxed feel. Most of us don't work nine-to-five and want to do shopping over a more extended period. I hope this report helps retailers and other businesses to realise there is an opportunity to change the opening hours they have.

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"I often finish work at 8pm and find that things are closing down. I often come in at seven in the morning and, despite all the tourists that are around, there is not a huge number of places to get coffee or breakfast.

"Nobody wants Edinburgh to become a stag city. I'm keen to see that our night-time economy is not all about our alcohol offering, but that there is somewhere to buy a sandwich, a soft drink or a coffee as well."

The council used to have guidelines that stated that cafes and coffee shops cannot open beyond 8pm in "areas of sensitivity" such as Grassmarket, Nicolson Street, Buccleuch Street and Tollcross.

It revised the guidelines last year and they now only apply to hot food takeaways.

Starbucks failed last year in a bid to get its Royal Mile shop a 24-hour licence, with police saying they feared it could encourage "disorder and disturbance throughout the night".

SQW Consulting was commissioned to compile the report following a motion by Tory councillor Joanna Mowat asking for the effect of the night-time economy to be investigated.

In the report, which cost the council 6694, the firm said: "In some cases, the hours immediately after the usual shop closing time - 5.30pm to 7pm - were seen as a wasted opportunity when people were keen to continue shopping."

The report also said there is "a concern" that the scale and nature of the evening economy could "cause serious negative effects on Edinburgh's economy" because of impressions of rowdiness, antisocial behaviour and crime, but said no evidence shows that this is happening.

A separate report is to be compiled by the council looking at the impact on residents.