'Love thy neighbour', lawyer warns licensees

A leading licensing lawyer has warned licensees to "love thy neighbour" or face the consequences.

Alan Kefford, managing partner of Norwich solicitors Howes Percival, said the Licensing Act would make it much easier for neighbours to press a complaint about pubs.

Under the new legislation any complaint from a resident, unless it is judged to be "frivolous, vexatious or repetitive", will result in the premises licence being reviewed.

Speaking yesterday at a seminar held in Newmarket, Norfolk, on the new Licensing Act, Mr Kefford warned publicans that now was the time to sort out any issues that they might be having with local residents. He said: "Our advice to licensees is to keep on good terms with you neighbours. Take any complaints seriously - ignore them at your peril.

"The new system will encourage local residents to complain if they are not happy. Many people are daunted at the prospect of having to go to court. Now they will be able to involve their local councillor and issues may well become political."

However, Mr Kefford said that despite its problems, reform to the licensing system was needed. "It had to evolve. The old system had become cumbersome," he said.