Still time for licence applications, says Purnell
It's not too late - that's the message to licensees with the deadline for conversion licence applications looming.
Speaking exclusively to The Publican, licensing minister James Purnell said: "To anyone who thinks they have left it too late, my message would be: there is still time."
He said he believed two-thirds of licensed premises would have their applications in by the August 6 deadline.
But figures from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport reveal that only 51 per cent of all licensed premises have submitted their applications so far.
However, the situation for pubs is more encouraging than other sectors with the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) estimating 75 per cent of its members have applied.
Mr Purnell added: "We would expect that by the deadline we will have made real progress compared to May when things weren't looking so good."
He acknowledged that pubs had done better than many other licensed venues, such as restaurants and takeaway outlets, in submitting their applications.
Speculating on why some pubs had left it so late, he said: "It's hard to tell, but there's quite a lot of work and it's partly just human nature to leave things until the last minute."
Mark Hastings, the BBPA's communications director, said that by the August 6 deadline the majority of pubs would be "there or there- abouts".
He said: "I would not underestimate the number of applications that are going in at the last minute and the amount of work that is being put in."
Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, said: "Watch out for possible pitfalls, otherwise you could see your application rejected and your grandfather rights lost," he said.
A spokesman for LACORS, the local authorities co-ordinating body, said that councils were now being swamped by applications, but had still only received 40 per cent from all licensed premises.
"We are organising one-to-ones with licensees to help them with their applications," he said.
"But councils' resources are stretched and our advice would be to get your application in as soon as possible."
