Darkness near bar (5)
I believe the answer is:
night
'darkness' is the definition.
(night is a period of darkness)
'near bar' is the wordplay.
'near' becomes 'nigh' (synonyms).
'bar' becomes 't' (T-bar is a part of a ski lift).
'nigh'+'t'='NIGHT'
(Other definitions for night that I've seen before include "Time for turning" , "Time between days" , "Time without 10" , "''Tender is the ...'' (F Scott Fitzgerald)|" , "A Hard Day's (the Beatles)" .)