Shrewsbury boasts booming night life, and is ready to compete with the competition

The town has seen bars and restaurants pop up all over the area in recent years and now they look set to open for longer as demand grows.

While the benefits of a strong night-time economy have divided opinion, the town looks set to be one of the most popular places in the Midlands to visit at night.

Grant Lees, operations director for The Buttermarket – Shropshire's largest entertainment venue – said it was an important step for the town.

"Certainly in the past five years there has been a massive boost," he said. "I think it has outdone places like Telford and surrounding areas.

"Speaking from our experience at our venues – The Buttermarket, C:21, Spirit and The Peach Tree – we see that when security check ID we have visitors coming from far and wide – Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Telford. Over the last five years it has really become the destination."

In 2014, the Southwater development opened in Telford bringing bars, restaurants and a cinema in a bid to "kick start" the town's night-time economy. The development is still expecting to see more businesses open until the end of the year, so Shrewsbury has been forced to find new ways to compete.

Craig Reeves, marketing manager at Theatre Severn and the Old Market Hall – which are operated and owned by Shropshire Council – said when one venue opens, it allows other businesses to follow suit.

"Our venues bring in a quarter of a million people into Shrewsbury town centre annually, and the vast majority of those are in the evening," he said. "And since they have opened it has been no surprise to see more bars and restaurants open offering pre-show menus and offers.

"So we have really seen that one venue opening can bring business to others. It's been clear with the regeneration of Frankwell area – since the theatre opened it is a much more vibrant area.

"A third of our audience comes from outside the town – from Telford, Mid Wales, Cheshire and other areas.

"That is about 50,000 people each year brought into Shrewsbury so it clearly gives people a reason to visit."

While the need for a night-time economy in Shrewsbury has not been disputed, some councillors are at loggerheads over how much the town should embrace the apparent boom.

After a recent visit from Purple Flag assessors – who recognise standards of excellence in managing the evening and night-time economy – some celebrated positive feedback while others called for a balance.

Miles Kenny, Shrewsbury mayor, said having accreditation would be a "shining beacon". But Councillor Andrew Bannerman has said he is often hears complaints about the aftermath of late-night drinking.

But according to Mr Lees, who is also chair of Safer Shrewsbury Pubwatch, there are measures in place to control the issue. He said: "It is about control and working together. All our members of Safer Shrewsbury Pubwatch have a great working partnership with the police and the council."

One of the issues dividing opinion is applications from bars and pubs to stay open longer. In December, the town council said it will call on Shropshire Council to restrict new drinking licences or renewals to 2am.

However, the Source Bar in Barker Street was given permission to open Shropshire's only lap dancing club for three days a week. The bar has applied to allow drinking until 4am from Wednesday to Saturday. Bonds, a nightclub, has applied to extend its alcohol serving hours to 4am from Monday to Saturday.

Mr Lees said: