A bar owned by a former star of The Only Way is Essex has submitted a bid for later opening hours after a nightclub opposite was forced to close following complaints of anti-social behaviour.

Hors D ‘Oeuvre, otherwise known as HDO, is situated opposite Funky Mojoe in High Road, South Woodford, which shut earlier this year.

The restaurant is described as a ‘casual’ dining bar and Shisha lounge offering cocktails and finger food.

It was opened in September 2013 by Danni Park-Dempsey, who appeared in the third series of TOWIE three years ago. 

HDO currently has a licence to serve alcohol until 9.30pm from Monday to Saturday and until 9pm on Sundays. The venue is closed by 10pm.

Premises Licence Holder Alchemy Investments Ltd and Ms Park-Dempsey are now seeking to extend the alcohol licence until 11.30pm between Monday to Saturday, and 10.30pm on Sundays.

The venue will then shut half an hour later.

Police say they have no record of any crime-related incidents at HDO since it opened. 

The bar only serves drinks to customers who buy food and the capacity is 40, compared to 500 at Funky Mojoe.

Ms Park-Dempsey, 26, told the Guardian she was been “struggling to make a living” with the current opening hours.

She said: "I’m losing business to other restaurants as all of them serve food later than us. 

"I’ve realised people like to come out for dinner at all different times and we can’t compete.

"None of the residents have anything to worry about. 

"Our floor plan hasn’t changed; we’re not all of a sudden going to have a DJ. It is simply about being able to serve food later."

She claimed the stigma surrounding Funky Mojoe has affected residents’ trust of independent businesses in the area.

The nightclub closed after failing to overturn a decision to revoke its licence due to crime and anti-social behaviour.

Redbridge Council has received representations from Redbridge Police, the council’s licensing enforcement team, Trading Standards and MP Iain Duncan-Smith, who said he was concerned about disruption to residents.

Licensing officer PC Alan Felix said: “Since the venue has been trading, police have had no cause to attend the venue apart from standard licensing visits.

“The revised hours are in line with similar premises offering healthy competition. Police do not intend to object to this application.”

The council said it was aware of seven incidents during the summer when the bar was open past 10pm.

Their community safety team has recommended that the changes to the licence are approved, with conditions designed to prevent disturbance to nearby homes.

The application will be decided at a licensing committee meeting on Thursday morning.