Licensing@aol.com
Changing the price of drinks
QOur pub is the only one for miles around. In a couple of months there is a special event near here, with people coming from all over the country. Would it be all right to raise my prices for the
duration of this event, as long as I changed my price list too?
AThere is nothing illegal in raising prices during an event, as long as you are careful to ensure that the prices match what the customers can see on your price list and people are not misled.
Retail prices are not set and vary
throughout the country. You may charge what you fix yourself, subject to market
conditions and, of course, the goodwill factor among your regulars.
It would, however, be illegal to charge one price for some customers and another price for others. As with special offers, you should give clear indication to your staff and customers when the change is going to take place. You do not want to lose your existing trade just for a few days' quick profit.
I should add that shifting prices is full of dangers and should only be undertaken very carefully. Nothing creates more public criticism than sudden changes in prices and one slip could see trading standards officers whom you never knew existed clamouring at your door.
Notice period for steward
QI am writing regarding our steward's contract of employment. First of all he was self-employed, but now he is on a yearly contract. What should his period of notice be?
APerhaps in the early days you did not bother with a proper employment contract, but the situation is entirely different now and I think you would have some difficulty in claiming that he was anything other than a full-time permanent employee. You mention a yearly contract. This suggests that you have been advised that if his actual employment is for less than a year you can escape certain employment obligations and can terminate his
employment without notice at the year's end. This is a mistaken assumption and I suggest you take advice to ensure that you are not hauled before an employment tribunal if you try an instant dismissal.
The period of notice should either be given in the written terms and conditions (which you are required by law to supply within two months of the start of employment) or it will be calculated on the basis of the number of years of employment (which will include his previous work for the club) up to a maximum of 12 weeks after 12 years.
You do need ongoing advice and some helpful literature can be obtained from your local Department of Employment office or on the web at www.dti.gov.uk/employment, or from ACAS, which has some very helpful material on this subject (www.acas.org.uk).
Wrong details on licence
QWe have just received our revised premises licence and the times listed are wrong. What should we do?
AReturn the licence to the local licensing officer, pointing out the error. Advice to local councils is that they should put right actual errors on a licence without requiring the licence-holder to go through expensive variation. This only applies to actual typographical or administrative errors on their part, of course. If you put wrong times on your application form and it went through in that form as a result, you only have yourself to blame, I am afraid. It is vital to check and re-check any application to ensure that it is entirely accurate.
