'Last-chance saloon' for LESG tenants
London & Edinburgh Swallow Group tenants were trading in the last-chance saloon this week as company adminstrators began the job of surrendering premises licences for pubs across the estate.
Surrender applications, which are now arriving at town halls across the country, means pubs will be trading illegally unless hosts move swiftly to get licences transferred into their own names. Licensees have just seven days to take action from the time the surrenders were lodged with council licensing departments.
Administrator Ernst & Young has declined to reveal the number of surrenders which went out this week but solicitors acting for one group of hosts believe it could be considerable.
"It is highly likely a good number of licensees did not personally receive the original letter from the administrator requesting them to apply for the transfer and some others may not have acted on the advice," said John Gaunt & Partners solicitor Craig Burman.
Imminent DangerLicensing authorities were under no obligation to inform hosts that surrender applications were pending:"It means some licensees will be ignorant that their pubs are in imminent danger of being closed down. Even if they are notified of the surrender, they will have to move very fast to get a transfer application within the seven day deadline," he added.
Licensees who miss the boat will be required to go through the costly and time-consuming procedure of applying for a new premises licence if they want to re-open their pubs.
The Morning Advertiser has teamed up with solicitors John Gaunt & Partners to provide a 24-hour helpline for LESG tenants. The number to call is (0114) 2663400.
