Brewers are being warned to expect a Christmas crackdown on pubs operating without PELs.
Adrian Taylor, a partner at Manchester law firm Rowe Cohen, cites the £5,000 fine imposed on Wolverhampton & Dudley after council officials saw people dancing in two London Pitcher & Piano bars, as an example of the large fine breweries may face if they do not obtain the correct licences.
Bristol action Bristol city licensing committee is demanding that late-opening bars document their locking-up procedures if they want their PEL approved or renewed.
The move follows the killing last August of barmaid Shirley Cotton-Betteridge, who worked at the Figurehead and Firkin in the city.
She was murdered by a former employee of the pub as she locked up alone.
The council wants procedures put in writing and assurances that two people will always be on duty.
Red tape fears Pubs could face a sea of red tape following changes to European regulations designed to protect temporary agency workers, claims the British Hospitality Association.
A proposed concession in the draft directive would have meant staff were only covered by the new rules once they had worked for an employer for six weeks.
But this has been scrapped and temporary staff will now be entitled to the same terms and conditions as permanent employees from day one.
The BHA said this will create an administrative nightmare.
Show and tell Exhibition organiser Brintex has identified the on-trade sector as key to the development of the London International Wine & Spirits Fair scheduled for ExCel from 20 to 22 May.
Brintex commissioned Wine Intelligence to investigate on-trade attitudes towards the show to ensure the event is geared up to the sector where applicable.
One new feature will be the On-Trade Forum, apurpose-built theatre and networking area.