With fewer than eight weeks to go until Oxford City Council takes full control of the licensing of alcohol in the city, some bars will definitely have to close because of failure to comply with new regulations, according to councillors.

About 700 Pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants in Oxford have been informed of the need to apply for an all-embracing premises licence.

But with the processing of new licences taking an average of two months, councillors are convinced as many as 100 venues will have to close on November 24.

That is the number of outstanding applications the council is still waiting to receive. No venue with an old-style licence issued by magistrates will be able to operate legally after November 24.

City councillor Tony Brett, chairman of the authority's licensing committee, said: "There are significant implications for businesses that have not met the deadline.

"Pubs and clubs that have missed it will have no effective licence from November 24 and their staff will face prosecution if they serve alcohol without one.

Takeaways and kebab vans without licences will have to close at 11pm.

"The licensing authority is very clear that there will be no blind-eyes or exceptions to the rules.

"I think we are shaping Oxford well and the biggest thing for me is that the public is having a much bigger say in what is going on.

"We can listen to what they say and we can act on that -- of course all decisions have to be evidence-based, but I think the balance of power has shifted in favour of the resident.

"We are the representatives of people living in the city and unlike magistrates we are elected.

"I think Oxford in future will be a safer and more controlled environment -- but that doesn't mean to say it will be less fun, just people being more responsible."

The council is committed to maintaining its Special Saturation Policy, which dictates that no more new pubs, clubs or bars can open along the George Street-Worcester Street axis.

Regent Inns failed to get a licence for a 900-capacity Australian-themed Walkabout bar in Oxford when it tried earlier this month. It was given 21 days to appeal, which expires today.