Legal

PROPERTY: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Yorkshire Pub Stuff takes on sixth Star lease

03-Aug-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Northern England based multisite operator, Yorkshire Pub Stuff, has taken on its sixth long-term lease with Star Pubs & Bars.

Energy costs biggest worry for over 30% hospitality businesses

02-Aug-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rising energy prices are still the biggest concern from more than a quarter of hospitality businesses, new research from the Business Name Generator has revealed.

Gov’s new tax hikes will cost sector an extra £225m per year

01-Aug-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Trade bodies have pleaded with the Government to halt any further price hikes on the sector as new taxes come into effect today (1 August).

Operators split on allowing pubgoers to vape

31-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs are divided on whether customers should be able to vape on site, a recent poll from The Morning Advertiser has revealed.

PROPERTY: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Incipio Group to launch New York themed bar

28-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Incipio Group, the hospitality business behind eight London destination sites, has announced it will launch a New York themed bar, The 411, in September.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Hop tips - beer festivals

27-Jul-2023 By Alex Tomlinson, trainee solicitor, Poppleston Allen

As the summer sun hop-fully returns again, more and more people will be venturing out to enjoy another great British pastime – beer festivals.

Gov consultation on gaming machines in pubs welcomed

26-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Pub trade bodies UKHospitality (UKH) and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) have welcomed a consultation by the Government that is seeking views on matters relating to gaming machines in pubs and other venues.

Smaller businesses hit hardest as one in 18 sites close in past year

26-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Small, independent hospitality businesses are bearing the brunt of the 5,736 sites lost in the past year said UKHospitality (UKH) in reaction to new research.

Ofgem reforms 'welcomed' by sector

26-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Ofgem’s reformation plans to address the ongoing energy crisis have been welcomed by the sector, but trade bodies warn the Government must act “urgently” to avoid more business failures.

POLL: Do you permit vaping in your pub?

21-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Local councils have urged the Government to crackdown on the marketing of vapes, with the number of British adults using the products reaching record heights last year.

Extra sales revenue streams for on-trade ended by Gov

21-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The Government has decided it will end automatic provision for pubs and bars to sell alcohol for off-site consumption and will halt the increased number of temporary event notices (TENs) permitted too.

BII campaign calls for pubs to engage with MPs

20-Jul-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Operators have been urged to write to their MPs and invite them to their pubs, in a bid to show the importance of the sector in communities as part of a new campaign.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Q&A: Do operators need to do anything around Martyn's Law currently?

20-Jul-2023 By Andy Grimsey, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

In this column, Poppleston Allen's Andy Grimsey looks at Martyn's Law and when it is set to come into force.

PROPERTY: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Investment into local communities from pubcos 'really important'

20-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Investment and commitment from pubcos into community venues is “really important” after the recent decimation of high streets, according to Admiral director of Proper Pubs Mark Brooke.

Customers less likely to visit pubs as fixed rate mortgages end

19-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

As more people come off fixed mortgages there is a cash squeeze on them meaning they are less likely to visit pubs, according to research from Oxford Partnership.

Sector 'not out of the woods' as inflation eases

19-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The downturn in inflation is “positive news” for the sector but firms are not “out of the woods yet”, according to industry leaders.

Over 170 pubs join legal claim against energy giants

19-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs may have overpaid by more than £1,000 per year on energy costs, a law firm has revealed as it plans to help businesses recover "secret commissions" paid to brokers by energy companies.

Warning over alcohol tax changes increasing closures

18-Jul-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The changes to alcohol duty that are set to be implemented in a matter of weeks could intensify pub closures, the sector has been warned.

E.ON boss: sector too 'high risk' to invest in

17-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

A Middlesex pub could see expansion plans “cancelled” after its energy supplier rejected an application to extend the site’s supply, deeming the entire hospitality sector too “high risk”.

MPs and campaigners voice anger over 10.1% spirits hike

17-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Cross-party MPs and campaigners have descended on Westminster to voice their anger over a tax hike that will push the price of some drinks at pubs up by 10.1%.

Late-night levy 'more targeted' despite calls to scrap it

17-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Changes to the late-night levy (LNL) show a more “targeted” approach from the Government but any extra cost will be felt “most severely” by independent businesses.

OPINION

Championing code compliance

17-Jul-2023 By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

The role of the pubs code adjudicator is varied and one part of it involves taking time to understand how the regulated pub companies run their businesses and how they embed their code duties into their relationships with their tied tenants. The regulator...

Late-night levy changes 'damaging blow'

13-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Changes to the late-night levy (LNL) are a “damaging blow” but a “step in the right direction”, according to trade bodies across the sector.

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Red Oak Taverns & Pubs Ltd take on pubs

12-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Red Oak Taverns has expanded its estate with two new pubs with new pubs underway from Urban Pubs & Bars and Brunning & Price co-founder Jerry Brunning.

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Top tips: How to manage drunk customers in your premises this summer.

12-Jul-2023 By Elizabeth Varley, trainee solicitor, Poppleston Allen

As we edge towards the height of British summer, operators up and down the country are likely to be faced with additional customers looking to kick back and relax with a drink (or two) in their premises.

Business rates consultation 'ignores fundamental issues'

12-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The Government’s consultation into business rates, in particular Empty Property Relief (EPR), puts “additional burdens” onto ratepayers and ignores the systems “fundamental issues”.

SLTA laments move to axe night buses in Glasgow

11-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has claimed a move to cancel night buses in Glasgow is “yet another hammer blow” for the licensed trade.

Drinks sales in growth for tenth successive week

10-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

On-trade drinks sales have shown year-on-year growth for the tenth consecutive week.

How are alcohol duty rates changing?

07-Jul-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Ahead of the changes to alcohol duty rates in under a month (1 August), The Morning Advertiser takes a look at what the new system will look like.

Beavertown Brewery releases sunscreen

07-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Beavertown Brewery has launched a new sun lotion, Oil Your Neck, in a bid to raise awareness of sun safety.

APPBG highlights sectors 'immense contribution' to economy

06-Jul-2023 By Ed Bedington

With growing challenges facing the beer and pub sector, the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) has pledged to continue to press for change on beer duty and business rates.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Avoiding cracks in your pavement licence

05-Jul-2023 By Alex Tomlinson, trainee solicitor, Poppleston Allen

Following the overwhelming ‘Save Our Seats’ petition in Bristol City Centre recently, which petitioned for Bristol’s bars and restaurants to extend their outdoor seating areas past 10.30pm, it’s worth reviewing the current legal picture and processes...

Drinks sales up 7%

03-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in the on-trade were ahead of 2022 levels at the end of last month, marking the ninth consecutive week of year-on-year growth.

Drinks sales up, inflation rises, calls to scrap duty hikes

30-Jun-2023 By Rebecca Weller

June saw a variety of ups and downs for the sector, from year-on-year growth in drinks sales to rising food inflation, to DRS delay's and pleas to scrap alcohol duty hikes and pubcos "named and shamed".

SLTA: Gov move is ‘really good news’ for on-trade

30-Jun-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has welcomed the Scottish government’s move to take action on non-domestic rates, foster closer collaboration with businesses and set up a review board in its New Deal for Business Group.

UKH: growing business costs will cause 'entrenched inflation'

29-Jun-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Forcing firms to stay locked into high-priced energy contracts as food costs soar will result in “entrenched inflation”, UKHospitality's chief executive has stated.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Top tips on use of beer gardens and outside areas

29-Jun-2023 By Natasha Beck, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

It would seem that we are not getting the typical two weeks of British summertime this year and it is looking like the nice weather is here to stay for a while. If this is the case then you will no doubt be looking to maximise the use of any outside space...

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Roxy Leisure & Inception Group to launch sites

27-Jun-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

New venues are in the works from Inception Group and Roxy Leisure, and significant investments have been made by Star and Hydes to enhance their pubs for summer.

Scotland visitor levy ‘yet more red tape’ for hospitality

27-Jun-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

As the Scottish Parliament’s consultation on the proposed visitor levy opens, UKHospitality (UKH) Scotland has urged venues to respond and outline the impact it will have on their business.

London’s hospitality sector stabilises in first quarter of 2023

27-Jun-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Central London’s hospitality sector is recovering after suffering hundreds of closures of licensed premises during the turmoil of Covid, according to the latest Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners.

BBPA recommends scrutiny over MUP findings

27-Jun-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Scotland’s alcohol minimum unit pricing initiative has shown “positive” results but leaves much to be “considered” before a decision on its continuation is made.

Legalities around displaying drinks prices

27-Jun-2023 By Suraj Desor, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

The law on displaying prices for alcoholic drinks was changed some years ago with the introduction of The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

The Lock In Podcast

Season finale: The challenges ahead

26-Jun-2023 By Ed Bedington

With season three of the Lock In podcast coming to a close, we take a look at some of the current challenges, energy, supply, inflation etc - and where we see things heading.

July rail strikes 'hammer blow' for sector

23-Jun-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Fresh rail strikes in July will be a “hammer blow” for hospitality businesses entering the peak summer season, UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive Kate Nicholls has stated.

NTIA calls for Gov to protect security workers from violence

23-Jun-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Trade bodies have called for Government to take action to protect security workers against violence, after a new BBC report drew attention to the high levels of abuse they face in the workplace.

Interest rates hike prompts fear among trade bodies

23-Jun-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The Bank of England-imposed interest rates rise has the potential to contract the value of the hospitality economy by £4bn within four years, according to UKHospitality (UKH).

Cheap shot from Government on wages

22-Jun-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Government’s recent “naming and shaming” of companies for allegedly paying below the minimum wage feels like something of a cheap shot, certainly for those named in the hospitality sector.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Hearings – A salutary lesson

22-Jun-2023 By James Anderson, partner, Poppleston Allen

About six months ago, a colleague of mine represented an independent bar operator facing a review of his premises licence for noise issues in relation to loud music and people leaving the premises late at night. This was in a reasonably affluent suburb...