GUESTS staying at Butlin’s holiday resort in Minehead could be given an extra half-an-hour for celebrations to bring in the New Year.

The company won planning permission in February for its temporary Studio 36 theatre and conference centre to become a permanent venue.

But Somerset Council said entertainment must finish by 11pm nightly except New Year’s Eve, when it would be allowed to stay open until 12.30am.

Now, Butlin’s has asked for the 1,600-capacity venue to be allowed to remain open for New Year’s Eve until 1am.

Planning agent Sam Walsingham, of Walsingham Planning, said the temporary permission had allowed Studio 36 to continue the celebrations until 1am.

The council, which will determine the application, has asked for any public comments to be submitted by May 16.

Studio 36 was built during the Covid lockdowns to help the holiday centre return to pre-pandemic levels of guests.