The company that owns Australian theme-bar chain Walkabout is still considering opening in Oxford, just days after being told it was not welcome in the city.

An application from Regent Inns to open a bar able to hold 900 people on the site of the former Opium Den restaurant, in George Street, was rejected by city councillors earlier this month.

And just days ago, the 21-day period in which the company could appeal against that decision expired.

But today a spokesman for the company said it would "consider opportunities in Oxford as they arise".

Walkabout would have become Oxford's biggest drinking venue (excluding nightclubs), but police feared it would fuel city centre drink-related violence and add to existing problems after closing time.

A spokesman for Regent Inns said: "Regent Inns has subsequently written to the landlord of the (Opium Den) site to withdraw the contract, the agreement for which was due to expire at the end of this month. Regent Inns did not buy the land. The agreement was a conditional contract in place in advance of the company taking up the full lease for the building.

"However, following the rejection of the licence application and Regent Inn's withdrawal, the landlord is at liberty to use the building for another purpose."

The main reason the application was thrown out was because of the city's Special Saturation Policy -- a document prohibiting new bars, pubs and clubs opening in a clearly defined area including George Street and Worcester Street.

City councillor and licensing panel member Ed Turner said: "The issue was about the increasing number of licensed premises in an area that is already at breaking point. The decision showed the SSP has teeth."