A hospitality company is seeking licensing permission to allow children as young as 12 to enter some Edinburgh pubs and restaurants without an adult.

Signature Pubs Limited has asked the council to approve plans that would let teenagers enter the premises alone or in groups of up to six to buy a meal, snack or soft drink.

If granted, they would be served at McClarens on the Corner in Morningside, Cold Town House in Grassmarket and The Fountain on Dundee Street.

Owners claimed there was a strong demand for family-friendly restaurants after school, but some councillors have raised concerns and intend to do a site visit.

Caroline Loudon, a licensing solicitor representing the company, said at the licensing board meeting on Monday: "These are family friendly venues with well-trained staff.

"It offers an accessible space for children to start going out without parents or guardians but with the checks and balances you'd want for your own family."

Under the proposal, youths aged 12 to 15 would be permitted to enter the venues unaccompanied to purchase food and soft drinks until 20:00.

They would be required to provide proof of age with a valid Young Scot Card or passport and would be limited to face-to-face table service.

The company is also seeking a licence to serve children under 12 when with an adult.

Under 12s would be permitted until 23:00 unless attending a private function, in which curfew would be 01:00.

Loudon told the committee her own daughter was a similar age and struggled to find local venues she could go to by herself.

She said coffee shops often closed at 18:00 and teenagers tend to migrate to hotspots such as Lothian Road and St James Quarter.

Councillors questioned the proposal at the meeting and asked what staff would do if teenagers started acting in "feral way".

A representative from Signature Pubs said they would be treated the same way as any other person and be asked to leave.

Groups of children entering the restaurants would be capped at six with a total of 21 allowed.

Concerns were also raised about the idea the venues were more "alcohol-led" than fast-food restaurants.

Loudon said the three venues vary where alcohol is concerned and disputed the term "pub" in some cases as these are deemed to be more akin to a restaurant which serves alcohol.

A representative added: "The restriction is for the children to come in for the purposes of a meal or a hot chocolate after school."

A decision was paused until the next board meeting to allow councillors to inspect the premises.