Oldham pubs sign away promo rights
Five Oldham pubs have agreed to controversial restrictions on drinks promotions proposed by the town's trading standards.
The MA understands five of the 22 pubs earmarked for a licensing review have voluntarily accepted the restrictive conditions.
But they've been warned accepting the demands could reduce the value of their business in a future sale.
Authorities want to crack down on drinks promotions in town-centre pubs and bars, forcing blanket licence reviews on the premises. But lawyers believe it may be unlawful.
Lawyer Hamish Lawson of Cobbetts Solicitors said the validity of the council's actions will be challenged.
"Any review has to be evidential against a specific premises and my view is that they cannot deal with this problem through a blanket review process.
"They are talking about cumulative effect but it is clear you cannot use cumulative impact as the basis for a review.
"We are now waiting for the council to produce evidence to support the review before we decide our next move."
BBPA northern secretary Lee Le Clercq was astonished to hear five pubs had agreed to the conditions.
"They say they do not intend to run promotions in future so what is the point of them accepting these conditions? Do they not realise what effect these conditions will have on the future value of their business?"
It's understood the five pubs are run by small independent operators.
Le Clercq said councils across the country were watching developments very closely.
Among the restrictions and conditions planned are: paid police officers to be present during promotions; post-office-style queues with restrictions on the number of drinks bought; one door supervisor for each drinks queue; and seven days' notice to the council to hold promotions between 9pm and 5am.
