Trade bodies' concern over proposed Government licence fees hike

As part of the consultation’s proposal, annual premises licenses will be subject to a universal cap, and no longer be ‘banded’ to a pub’s rateable value.

The consultation also proposes caps on a number of premises licence changes. The proposed fee to vary a premises licence to specify a designated premises supervisor (DPS) will be capped at £105 — a 357% rise on the current fee of £23.

Damaging​

While welcoming that the Home Office had accepted the principle of a cap on local licensing fees, British Beer & Pub Association CEO Brigid Simmonds said the proposed limits are far too high. 

She said: “A pub in band B — the most typical band — would currently pay £180 per year for their licence, yet the new cap proposed is £740.

“With such high caps, there is still a danger that cash-strapped councils will be tempted to hike up fees dramatically, damaging local pubs.”

Grim reading​

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers’ strategic affairs director Kate Nicholls said proposed caps for applications to transfer or vary
a licence were a concern.

She said: “The headline figures for annual fees make grim reading, but the day-to-day fees pubs will have to pay to maintain their licences could be even more significant. Pubs that change their DPS on a regular basis will be hit extremely hard.”

Nicholls said the consultation’s proposal of charging higher fees for late-night licences would negatively affect late-night venues.

She said: “These venues will pay significantly more for their licence, and still face the threat of an early-morning restriction order or late-night levy, meaning they will effectively have to pay twice.”

The consultation​ runs until 10 April.