Health & safety

Pubs in the news

Pubs in the papers: Corbyn, arson, mass brawl...and Man U player eats at Wetherspoons

14-Sep-2015 By Oli Gross

The PMA looks at the good, bad, weird and wonderful action that publicans handle on a daily basis up and down the country.

Publican calls on trade for help after devastating fire ravages his pub

14-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

A Dorset publican has appealed for the trade’s help after a fire ravaged his pub, potentially leaving his family homeless.

Five-second rule is false: scientists

14-Sep-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Scientists have debunked the myth that food dropped on the floor for five-seconds or less is still safe to eat.

Leisure

All work and no play for 80% of licensees who are concerned at shortage of free time

04-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

 Publicans are increasingly worried about the pressures of the job, with almost 80% reporting that they are ‘concerned’ at the shortage of free time they have.

Nightmare children top complaint from pub goers

02-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Unruly children top the list of complaints from pub goers according to this year’s Good Pub Guide.

Pub that banned children says business is as good as ever

01-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

An East Staffordshire pub says trade is as good as ever despite taking the controversial decision to ban children under the age of five.

Shepherd Neame blamed for sewage-like stench upsetting Faversham locals

24-Aug-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Brewery Shepherd Neame is trying to get to the bottom of a persistent smell that is getting up the noses of Faversham locals.

Legal advice

The impact of public health in the licensing process

24-Aug-2015 By Poppleston Allen

The Government is anxious for public health authorities in England and Wales to be more involved in the licensing process following their establishment as a responsible authority in 2012.

Police

'Vexatious' PC aims to sue after burglar alarm gives him tinnitus at break-in

24-Aug-2015 By Oli Gross

A licensee fears for the relationship between operators and police as an officer is trying to sue him - claiming a burglar alarm gave him tinnitus when attending a break-in.

Arsonists in Scream masks torch Yorkshire pub

20-Aug-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Police are appealing for witnesses after the Bay Horse in West Yorkshire was set on fire by arsonists wearing masks from the film, Scream.

'No evidence' for e-cigarette ban in Welsh pubs and bars

19-Aug-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Proposals to ban e-cigarettes in Welsh pubs, bars and restaurants have come under fire after a report found they are less harmful than tobacco.

Smoking ban

Government rules out smoking ban extension

14-Aug-2015 By Oli Gross

There is “no plan” to extend the public smoking ban to pub gardens, the Department of Health has told the PMA.

'Terrible' TripAdvisor review despite saving wedding guest's life

07-Aug-2015 By Oli Gross

Saving the life of a wedding guest was not enough to save a pub from being rated as “terrible” on TripAdvisor.

Freedom of Information

Violent crime at London pubs shoots up

07-Aug-2015 By Oli Gross

Violent crime at London pubs has jumped during the past two years, exclusive figures have revealed.

Health

Licensees claim displaying calories on menus 'impossible'

21-Jul-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Calls for pubs to list the calorie content of food on their menus have been branded ‘impossible’ by licensees.

Pubs urged to display calories on menus by council leaders

20-Jul-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Pubs should display the calorie content of the food and drink on their menus according to council leaders.

Breathalysers

Fears that scheme could 'turn pubs into fortresses'

08-Jul-2015 By Oli Gross

Cornwall pubs sign up to voluntary project - but fear from industry that it criminalises well-behaved customers.

On the door breathalyser tests introduced in Cornwall

03-Jul-2015 By Oli Gross

Pubs in Cornwall have the power to turn away drunk customers who fail breathalyser tests this summer.

Brothers jailed for pub burglaries

25-Jun-2015 By Michelle Perrett

Two brothers have been jailed for a total of 11 years after admitting conspiracy to burgle at 60 pubs across the south of England.

Police

Brutal attack leaves Sussex licensee 'covered in blood'

01-Jun-2015 By Oli Gross

A pub lessee was left ‘covered from head to toe in blood’ after an unprovoked attack in Newhaven.

Food hygeine

Surrey pub hit with £13k fine for mouse infestation

01-Jun-2015 By Oli Gross

A mouse infestation led to a £13,916.66 fine after a gastropub pleaded guilty to food hygiene offences, but the pub since improved to gain a food rating of five.

Health

Survey finds middle aged drinkers most likely to be at risk

28-May-2015 By Oli Gross

Middle-aged people are most likely to be drinking too much as 3.4 million are at higher risk levels, according to latest research.

Trade warned as phone call scam makes a comeback

26-May-2015 By Emily Sutherland

A Shropshire licensee has warned the trade about the re-emergence of bogus callers claiming to be selling adverts in police and fire service magazines.

Police Federation calls for tougher drink driving laws

21-May-2015 By Emily Sutherland

The Police Federation has said that it wants to reduce the legal drink drive limit in England and Wales from 80mg to 50mg per 100 millimetres of blood-in line with changes introduced in Scotland

Street Pastors scheme avoids closure

14-May-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Nottingham’s Street Pastors scheme has temporarily avoided closure after securing £12,000 funding from the local business community.

Defibrillator installed at Swindon pub

07-May-2015 By Michelle Perrett

A heart defibrillator has been installed at The Tavern Inn at Kemble Railway station in Gloucestershire.

One in 10 Newcastle licensees reduce hours to avoid late-night levy

06-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Just one in 10 licensees in Newcastle applied to reduce their premises’ hours in order to avoid paying a late-night levy, new figures have revealed.

Liverpool council to consult on late-night levy next month

15-Dec-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Liverpool City Council has said it will launch a consultation on the possible introduction of late-night levy in January.

Tougher sentencing guidelines proposed for food safety breaches

13-Nov-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Publicans who fail to comply with food safety and hygiene laws could face a fine of 700% of their weekly income or 18 months in prison, under new proposals from the Sentencing Council.

FSA says diners will shun outlets with hygiene rating below 3

06-Nov-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

The Food Standards Agency is warning diners not to book their Christmas meal at any outlet with a low hygiene rating.

Newcastle 'could face legal challenge' over JDW hours refusal

03-Nov-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The decision by Newcastle City Council to refuse JD Wetherspoon’s application to reduce its hours to dodge the city’s late night levy is likely to be overturned if there is a legal challenge, industry lawyers have claimed.

JD Wetherspoon fails in bid to cut hours at Newcastle pubs ahead of late-night levy

29-Oct-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Newcastle City Council has refused JD Wetherspoon’s attempt to dodge the city’s late-night levy by cutting back its hours at three pubs.

Public health agency to examine case for alcohol minimum pricing

24-Oct-2014 By Mike Berry

The spectre of alcohol minimum pricing has been raised once again in a new policy paper from Public Health England (PHE).

New rules published for e-cigarette promotion

10-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

New advertising rules for e-cigarettes have been published by the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) to ensure the product is promoted responsibly.

Late-night levies 'will reduce property values'

02-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The introduction of late-night levies is leading to a “modest” decline in property values and favours nightclubs at the expense of pubs, agents have warned.

JD Wetherspoon faces fight in reducing pub's hours to avoid late-night levy

01-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Nottinghamshire Police has objected to an application from JD Wetherspoon (JDW) to reduce one of its pub’s hours to avoid paying a late-night levy, on the grounds of “crime and disorder, public safety and the prevention of public nuisance”.

Southampton City Council approves late-night levy

18-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Southampton City Council is the seventh local authority to rubber-stamp proposals for a late-night levy.

Southampton licensing committee recommends late-night levy

11-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Southampton is one step closer to implementing a late-night levy, after the council’s licensing committee today voted in favour of adopting the fee.

'Forensic data' not needed to justify late-night levy, Southampton claims

04-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Southampton City Council has claimed it does not need to provide “forensic data” outlining the specific costs of policing the night-time economy in order to justify the introduction of a late-night levy (LNL).

Politicians slammed as 'anti-alcohol public health zealots' over manifesto proposals

03-Sep-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A Parliamentary group's manifesto has called for a radical overhaul of drink-driving laws and regulation of alcohol marketing, to be overseen by an alcohol tsar. But what does the industry think of the proposals?

WHO calls for ban on e-cigarettes indoors

27-Aug-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the use of e-cigarettes indoors should be prohibited.

Parliamentary group calls for tougher drink-drive limits and health warnings on alcohol

11-Aug-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

One pint of beer could be enough to put punters over the drink-drive limit under new proposals being put forward by politicians.

EMRO and lnl should only be last resorts, ALMR tells Government

31-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has demanded that late-night levies and Early Morning Restriction Orders are only used as a “last resort”.

Liverpool to consult on late-night levy while Islington announces implementation date

24-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

Liverpool City Council’s licensing committee has granted a consultation on implementing a late-night levy.

Chelmsford levy approval could give other councils the green light

24-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Chelmsford’s late-night levy approval could give other small towns and cities the green light to follow suit, licensing lawyers have warned.

Chelmsford City Council approves late-night levy

17-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Chelmsford City Council is the latest authority to rubber-stamp proposals for a late-night levy.

Weymouth rejects late-night levy and EMRO

17-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Weymouth has rejected the idea of consulting on an early morning restriction order or a late-night levy, due to concerns over ‘the terminal hour’ and the financial implications on businesses.

Warrington publicans criticise 'back door' EMRO moves

17-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Warrington licensees have accused council and police officers of attempting to bring in an early morning restriction order (EMRO) “through the back door”, after the measure was rejected last year.

Nottingham approves late-night levy

14-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Nottingham City Council is the fifth local authority to approve a late-night levy.

Chelmsford publicans hit out at 'farcical' late-night levy consultation

09-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Chelmsford operators have hit out at the “underhand” and “farcical” use of figures by the local council and police during its late-night levy consultation.