But the owners stress that the adult entertainment is being aimed at stag and hen parties and would not be a regular feature of the nightclub's programme.

The sexy shows could be provided if a proposal to extend the activities at the premises is backed by Highland councillors at a meeting next month.

The application from Robert J. Sutherland will go before the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Licensing Board in Golspie on Tuesday, August 10.

Mr Sutherland also wants to offer theatre, films, gaming, indoor and outdoor sports and televised sports at the nightclub at The Shore in Wick.

In addition, he wants to extend the amount of time alcohol can be sold by an hour on Saturdays until 2.30am the following morning and would like the midnight curfew on admissions removed. He also wants to sell alcohol by off-sales.

John Sutherland, speaking yesterday on behalf of the management, said the plan to vary the activities on offer would give the nightclub the opportunity to put on a wider range of events.

"We sometimes get requests for dancers when stag nights or hen parties are being held here but under the present terms of our licence that cannot be done," he explained.

"The same goes for films and theatre. Varying the terms of the licence would enable us to put these things on. We have the capabilities to stage them with the premises we have here but we can't do that at the moment."

Mr Sutherland stressed that the adult entertainment would not be held on a regular basis but when requested for hen night and stag parties. He said the films would be provided in conjunction with an established mobile operator and could help fill the gap left by the closure of the All Star Factory in Thurso.

He added that the nightclub wanted the midnight curfew removed as it was "bad for business".

In a report which will be before councillors in Golspie, the licensing standards officer, David Inglis, said he could not support any licensed hours outwith the board's current policy.

But he has no objection to any of the changes to the operating plan subject to the imposition of additional local conditions where appropriate.

He writes: "All adult entertainment conditions should apply when such entertainment is taking place on the premises or may be reasonably anticipated."

Mr Inglis states that he is not opposed to the Waterfront selling alcohol for off-sales but adds: "The board's policy hours for late-night entertainment venues should only apply when parts of the premises other than only Silver Darlings (the nightclub's adjoining restaurant/bar) are open for use as a late-night entertainment venue."

He says he has no objection to the removal of the condition relating to a curfew on the premises.

Meanwhile, a licence for a local restaurant which was gutted by fire over a year ago is to be reviewed at next month's meeting.

Councillors are to reassess the situation regarding the Taj Mahal Indian restaurant in Castletown which was subject of an arson attack in April 2009.

The premises were extensively damaged as a result of the blaze and have not been suitable for trading ever since.

The board is being asked to further review the licence due to the non-payment of the annual fee which was deferred from the March meeting.

At that time, members were given a letter from Aileen Miah, the licence holder, outlining the situation with regard to the premises, the then pending court case and future options. It was decided to suspend the licence until a later date to allow Mrs Miah an opportunity to consider her options.

She has been invited to attend the meeting in Golspie.

g.calder@nosn.co.uk

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