Kingston’s historic Market House is one step closer to becoming an upscale pizza joint after The Stables was granted a licence to sell alcohol.

The Devon-based chain is expected to bring conversion plans before Kingston Council later this year.

But councillors did not grant the chain permission to sell alcohol past 11pm, with the restaurant having asked to sell alcoholic drinks until 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Stables had already reduced its alcohol sale proposals by 30 minutes, back from midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, after Kingston police branded the application “unacceptable”.

The amended plans were presented to the licensing sub-committee last week.

Wednesday, August 3: 'It's not a Pizza Express with a pub': The Stable battles Kingston Council over Market House pizza restaurant plan

Monday, August 1: Pizza chain's alcohol plan for Market House is 'unacceptable', say Kingston police

In its decision the committee said: “[We] took account of the impact on residents adjacent to the Market Place who were already subjected to considerable noise from traders, shoppers and pedestrians from early each morning.

“The sub-committee noted concerns expressed about the possible music and alcohol led pub type nature of the operation based on observations of the applicant’s Whitechapel premises.”

At the meeting, Andy Cooper, who helped start the brand in 2009, denied that the restaurant would be like its branch in Whitechapel, which was formerly a nightclub and still hosts live music.

Kingston police officers had visited that restaurant to judge whether it would fit into the ancient marketplace.

The sub-committee said it took into account the assurances and that the Market House would cater to a “much broader demographic”.

Under the approved plans, the pizza restaurant will have to close at 11.30pm all week.

Strict restrictions were also placed on which customers would be able to drink alcohol, with alcohol only available to those “waiting for a table or are taking a table meal” and any outside seating areas would have to be cleared by 8.15pm.

Earlier this year when proposals first emerged, Market House’s current traders set up an online and paper petition against converting the “unique visitor attraction”.

It gathered about 15,000 signatures.

Just less than 660 nearby residents were consulted on the Stables application.