Ultimate: 'Polycarbonates are common sense'

Bar operator Ultimate Leisure has said switching to polycarbonate glasses is "common sense" in some of its venues following trials.

Chief executive Mark Jones said the quality of the material was "almost indistinguishable" from glass after tests in three of its bars - although he added that he was not in favour of blanket bans.

Prohibition and Living Room operator Ultimate now plans to make the switch to polycarbonate permanent at Kiss in Newcastle, Jimmyz in North Tyneside, and Halo nightclub in Leeds.

Jones added that a further bar would soon be added and another four bars and nightclubs will be reviewed and of these two are expected to make the switch.

He said that he had been "surprised" that customers didn't seem to mind and argued: "In some places it's operationally easier to use polycarbonate and it's safer. There's no clearing up of glass at the end of the night."

Across the Ultimate Leisure venues switching to polycarbonate, more storage space is being found as stacking scratches the polycarbonate. Glass-washing equipment is also been upgraded for the same reason.

However, Jones said: "We are not in favour of a blanket ban in town centres because we think it will penalise those operating in the day time or with a food focus."

Councils and police forces around the country are continuing to discuss the use of polycarbonates.

But Jim Byrom, chair of the licensing committee at South Northamptonshire Council, has said the council and police dropped a move to force pubs and bars to use them.

Byrom now says the council only discussed the benefits of polycarbonate, that a ban was "never on the agenda" and that it's "up to the licencee to make these decisions".