A bar owned by a former cast member of The Only Way is Essex has vowed not to cause disruption affter its hours were extended yesterday.

Hors D ‘Oeuvre, otherwise known as HDO, is opposite the site of the old Funky Mojoe nightclub in High Road, South Woodford, which shut earlier this year due to anti-social behaviour.

The bar was applying to stay open until midnight Monday to Saturday, and 10.30pm on Sundays, with alcohol being served until a half hour before closing time.

But the licensing committee, yesterday at Redbridge town hall in Ilford, ruled that the bar would be able to stay open until 11.30pm from Monday to Thursday and midnight at the weekends, with alcohol served until a half hour before closing time.

This is still an increase on HDO's current licence to serve alcohol until 9.30pm from Monday to Saturday and until 9pm on Sundays. The venue is closed by 10pm.

The restaurant, described as a ‘casual’ dining bar, was opened in September 2013 by Danni Park-Dempsey, who appeared in the third series of TOWIE three years ago, and her partner Fabian Donovan.

MP Iain Duncan Smith raised concerns of a repeat of the problems associated with Funky Mojoe and these views were echoed by Liberal Democrat Cllr Hugh Cleaver at the meeting yesterday.

Cllr Cleaver said: “This is a potential problem for people in the area and this is how it all started with Funky Mojoe.

“We had promises from them and they were broken, hopefully there will not be a problem in the future here but we will fight this if there are any issues.”

But joint owner, Mr Donovan, said the venue, which only holds 40 people compared to the 500 who regularly visited Funky Mojoe nightclub, was completely different.

He said: “We are going to be different to Funky Mojoe, we want to have a positive impact on the community instead.

“I understand the concern in the area that it will be another Funky Mojoe but it was a nightclub and we are a restaurant, we have never had someone complain and we don’t expect that to change.

“People really love this venue and they want to show it off to friends, we have kids groups in the mornings and charity events.

“We will make sure the clientele is the right kind of person, we certainly won’t be holding any 21st birthdays.”