Proposals

CMA greenlights revised Heineken deal to buy Punch pubs

18-Aug-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has accepted proposals from Heineken to address concerns that its purchase of 1,900 Punch Taverns would undermine competition in certain areas.

Major overhaul proposed for ‘fundamentally flawed’ Licensing Act

04-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

The chair of the House of Lords inquiry into the Licensing Act 2003 has described the legislation as “fundamentally flawed”, and a number of proposals have been made to fix it in a report published today (4 April).

Legislation

Deadline for pubs code consultation extended until 2016

01-Dec-2015 By Emily Sutherland

The deadline for the pubs code consultation has been extended in order to give the industry more time to respond, following concerns many tenants would be unable to respond in the busy run-up to Christmas.

Brighton

Proposal for "controversial changes" to licensing policy slammed

16-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

Brighton and Hove City Council has been criticised for proposing “controversial changes” in a review of its Statement of Licensing Policy.

Licensing guidance

Proposal slammed: 14 problems with licensing conditions

01-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

The British Beer and Pub Association has heavily criticised the drive to create a 'standard pool' of conditions for licensed premises.

Licensing

Hackney Council scraps controversial late night licensing consultation

13-Aug-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Hackney Council has scrapped a consultation into a controversial licensing policy after finding mistakes on an important document.

Government planning reform proposals include changes to Article 4 directions

31-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

The Government is asking for views on its proposed reforms to the planning system.

Save the Pub Group accuses Vince Cable of 'falling into trap' on pubco reform

16-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

The Save the Pub Group has accused the Government of producing a flawed solution to pubco reform, in a strongly worded letter to Vince Cable.

ALMR warns Cable his zero hours plan could hit pub jobs

15-May-2014 By James Wallin

A trade body has warned Vince Cable about wrapping pubs in red tape over zero hours contracts, which it said can offer much-needed flexibility to the sector.

Trade bodies urge Government not to introduce 'complex and unfair' changes to licence fees

10-Apr-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Trade bodies have warned that the Government's proposed changes to licence fees could result in ‘increased costs and complexity for both operators and local authorities’.

Wales proposes minimum pricing and e-cigarette ban

02-Apr-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

The Welsh Government has set out its intention to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol and is proposing to ban e-cigarettes in pubs and other enclosed spaces.

Licensing professionals attack plan to scrap personal licences

06-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

An influential association that represents c2,500 professionals working in licensing has added its weight to calls to shelve plans to abolish personal licences.

Newcastle implements late-night levy; Kingston rejects EMRO; Blackpool sets EMRO hearing date

01-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Newcastle licensees will begin paying a late-night levy today, after the local council rubber-stamped proposals to introduce the measure in June.

Warrington rejects EMRO; Woking rejects EMRO and late-night levy

16-Oct-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Warrington Council has voted against the introduction of an early morning restriction order (EMRO) and Woking councillors have rejected plans to introduce either an EMRO or a late-night levy.

Action plan for tackling EMROs

08-Jul-2013 By Poppleston Allen

You have heard from a reliable source that your licensing authority may shortly be consulting on whether or not to introduce an early-morning restriction order (EMRO). What should you do? Our action plan lays out suggested steps.

Peer raises concerns over alcohol licensing reform

28-Apr-2011 By Michelle Perrett

The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill had its second reading in the House of Lords and was passed to committee stage, yesterday.

Penrose: VAT cut off the agenda

04-Mar-2011 By John Harrington

A VAT cut for the leisure sector is off the agenda for the next three years, according to the Government's new tourism strategy.

Licensing overhaul: agreement to differ

14-Sep-2010 By Peter Coulson

Peter Coulson has been reading over some of the responses to the Government's proposed licensing overhaul.

BBPA: Act overhaul would threaten thousands of well-run pubs

06-Sep-2010 By James Wilmore

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has urged the government to "think again" over its licensing shake-up as it will seriously threaten...

Fears over Home Office record on licensing

31-Aug-2010 By Ewan Turney

A firm of top licensing solicitors has warned the Government it would be "wholly wrong" to implement changes to the Licensing Act in the autumn...

Mulholland slams BBPA over pub industry debate

10-Nov-2009 By Hamish Champ

Greg Mulholland, the Lib Dem MP who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, has slammed the sector's leading trade body for refusing...

Host wins Oldham test case

22-Jul-2009 By Tony Halstead

Oldham licensee Patrick Kelly has defeated an attempt to force hard-line restrictions on trading that are being sought throughout the town. Blanket...

More than 170 InBev sales staff face axe

09-Jan-2009 By James Wilmore

More than 170 InBev UK on-trade sales staff face being made redundant as part of a review of the business, The Publican understands. According to a...

InBev set to axe jobs and Mortlake brewery

06-Jan-2009

InBev has this morning announced a review of the business that looks likely to result in a number of UK job losses and the closure of...

Pub water bills to rise from 2010

14-Aug-2008 By John Harrington

Many licensees face big increases - perhaps as much as 26% - in water bills from 2010 under new plans.

SBPA slams Edinburgh BID scheme

28-May-2008 By Ewan Turney

Edinburgh BID scheme has little tangible benefit for licensed trade, says trade body

Brighton's saturation zone reduced

14-Feb-2008

The huge saturation zone proposed for most of central Brighton has been reduced to barely a third of its original size. Brighton & Hove City...

Coming your way? The new stealth tax

17-Aug-2007

HM Revenue & Customs has published its proposals for changes to the way in which publicans and others will obtain tax relief for expenditure on...

Legal advice: Gambling is a serious business

26-Apr-2007

The Gambling Commission has released a consultation paper outlining its proposals for codes of practice that will apply to exempt gaming in clubs and...

Odds are on for pub gambling go-ahead

01-Feb-2007 By Graham Ridout

Playing poker in pubs has come a step closer, following proposals issued last week by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport. Under the...

Real reasons

21-Nov-2002

behind reform It does seem that despite the overwhelming tide of concern and opposition to this Government's proposal to reform liquor licensing, it...

Noise ban threat lingers on

28-Feb-2002

The threat of noise legislation is still hanging over the trade despite a partial victory in Europe.Although threatened amendments to proposed noise...

Trade calls for 1am extension

01-Oct-2001

ALMR proposes pubs be automatically allowed an extra two hoursPubs should automatically be allowed to open until 1am regardless of objections from...

Extended hours for Queen's Golden Jubilee

02-Apr-2001

The government has decided to commemorate Her Majesty the Queen's succession to the throne with a public bank holiday and relaxation of the permitted...

Have a happy New Year

14-Mar-2001

I am the owner of a small country inn. I do not and have never provided entertainment at the premises due to the costs, the size of the drinking area...