Rutland pub loses licence after landlord liquidation

A Rutland pub has lost its premises licence and thousands of pounds in trade after its landlord went into liquidation.

Ventra 18 failed to let licensees Kristy and Kevin Housley of the Black Bull in Market Overton know that the firm was in trouble. They first heard about it when Harrow based parent company Ventra 9 rang them three weeks ago.

In such a situation a licensee has seven days after the owning company goes into liquidation to apply to keep a premises licence. "They left it too late," said Kevin Housley. "We've had to apply for a new licence through the council, which will take 28 days."

In the meantime, the pub is still open but can only serve food and soft drinks. Housley estimates his trade loss will top £16,000 before the new licence comes through.

"It's affected our trading enormously. If people are eating with us they can bring in their own drink, which some people have been doing."

However, weekly covers have dropped from up to 300 to a maximum of 60. Housley is hoping the new licence will come through on 17 August. "The Campaign for Real Ale is backing us and is trying to make our local MPs aware of how leaseholders can be mistreated by pubcos."

Ventra 9 is not charging rent until the pub is operating fully again and a new lease agreement is being negotiated. The Housleys have 18 years of a 20-year lease remaining.

The pub has been granted temporary licences to serve alcohol between Wednesday and 6pm on Sunday (4 to 8 August) and from Wednesday to 6pm on Sunday (11 to 15 August).

The law is due to change so licensees will have 28 days instead of seven to apply to keep their premises licence if the pub-owning company becomes insolvent.

Morning Advertiser legal editor Peter Coulson said: "It has not been signed as an order by the Secretary of State as it's been held up by the move of licensing to the Home Office. It could be the first piece of licensing legislation signed by the Home Office."