A business launching at a £115 million complex has reined in its planned opening hours following fears it would make life “barely tolerable” for locals.

Boom Battle Bar had lodged an application to serve food and alcohol until 1.30am most days at the brand-new Riverside development in Canterbury.

But members of the St Stephen’s Residents’ Association opposed the plans, arguing “young people should be encouraged to go out earlier rather than stay out later”.

And at a meeting of the authority’s licensing committee yesterday, Boom Battle Bar's head of operations, Steven Hazon, told members the firm had decided to reduce its hours to ensure no damage to its reputation.

“We don’t want to operate late into the night, that’s not the business that we are,” he explained.

“We are obviously a public business and the worst thing that can happen for us is to have any incidents that go against the sort of establishment we are.

“We wouldn’t want anything impacting our stock price.

“It’s important for us to ensure our reputation continues, so that’s why we decided to change the opening hours.”

Boom Battle Bar describes itself as a “competitive socialising venue, offering families and couples activities such as darts, axe-throwing, pool and table tennis”.

Originally bosses hoped to remain open until 1.30am Monday to Saturday, and until 11.30pm on Sundays.

Another business - plush restaurant Korean Cowgirl - was also set to go before the committee on Wednesday.

The eatery - which will open on Monday - had applied to trade until 1am every Thursday to Saturday, and until at least midnight on all other days.

St Stephen’s Residents’ Association vice-chairman Jennifer Holland wrote to the city council urging it to snub both applications.

She relayed the fears of neighbours that Riverside “is becoming a student-focused entertainment ‘hub’ with the viability of traders heavily dependent upon the sale of alcohol”.

“Residents have told me that with the noise created by loud voices, fired by alcohol, life will be barely tolerable for them,” she said.

“For this reason alone, they think there should be limits imposed on the closing times of venues.

“Others have said to me young people should be encouraged to go out earlier rather than stay out later, for example, by offering early ‘happy hours’.”

Ms Holland also feared the “potential for public nuisance in the neighbourhood”.

Ron Waters, one of the association’s committee members, also wanted the local authority to only allow Korean Cowgirl to operate during the council’s “core hours”.

Under those terms, it would have to close at 11.30pm on week nights, and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Ms Holland added: “We are concerned about the dispersal of customers following their visit to these premises and the cumulative effect of people exiting the site from The Korean Cowgirl and an increasing number of other venues.

“Appropriate controls should be put in place to balance the commercial needs of the development with the needs of the nearby residents.”

However, the residents’ association withdrew its objection to the Korean Cowgirl application.

This meant the restaurant’s bid was approved by default.

“I’d also like to thank the applicants for taking a constructive, positive and responsible approach to this application, and for actually listening to what residents have said..."

Meanwhile, Boom Battle Bar adjusted the terms of its application so its premises will operate until midnight every Monday to Saturday.

There were no changes to its hours on Sundays.

The venue’s owners also applied for a licence for “boxing or wrestling” events.

After the revised application was green-lit, committee chairman Cllr Ashley Clark told the association: “I think as a result of what you have said, those hours have been significantly cut down on what was initially asked for.

“I’d also like to thank the applicants for taking a constructive, positive and responsible approach to this application, and for actually listening to what residents have said.”

Riverside – which is owned by the local authority – is already home to a Curzon cinema and is set to house a BrewDog bar and upmarket Asian restaurant Sekkoya in two of its 12 commercial units.