Health & safety

JD Wetherspoon to vary pub licences in late-night levy protest

08-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has pledged to vary the licences of its pubs hit by late-night levies as part of new company policy in protest at the legislation.

Chelmsford could be next to approve late-night levy

03-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Late-night pubs and bars in Chelmsford may have to begin paying a levy from November, after the council’s licensing and regulatory committee recommended introducing the fee.

Nottingham set to go ahead with late-night levy

19-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Nottingham City Council said it is likely a late-night levy will be approved next month, despite the fact 74% of respondents to the consultation have objected to the plan.

City of London approves late-night levy

12-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The City of London Corporation is the fourth local authority to rubber-stamp proposals for a late-night levy.

Fall in number of councils considering an EMRO

07-May-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The number of licensing authorities in England and Wales considering the introduction of an early morning restriction order (EMRO) has fallen sharply, new research from Poppleston Allen has revealed.

Pubs face bill for environmental health inspections

01-May-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs may have to pay hundreds of pounds a year for environmental health inspections under an EU proposal that businesses foot the bill rather than local councils.

City of London licensing committee recommends late-night levy

28-Apr-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The City of London Corporation’s licensing committee has unanimously agreed to introduce a late-night levy, after the authority consulted on the fee for the second time in five months.

Milton Keynes facing second late-night levy proposal

24-Apr-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Milton Keynes could be the first town in the UK to face a second late-night levy proposal, after the first was narrowly rejected by its licensing committee last October.

Fall in number of councils considering a Late-Night Levy

22-Apr-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

The number of licensing authorities in England and Wales considering the introduction a late-night levy has fallen sharply, an annual survey by Poppleston Allen has found.

Results of PMA survey show publicans worried about health, wealth and family life

17-Apr-2014 By Mike Berry

Significant numbers of publicans are struggling under the weight of worries about money, housing, family life and their health.

Late-night levy consultation for Southampton

16-Apr-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Southampton City Council has voted to consult residents on the prospect of a late-night levy.

E-cigarette supplier forced to pull 'misleading' advert

03-Apr-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Online electronic-cigarette supplier E-Cigilicious has been forced to pull a press advert after the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that it was misleading.

Wales proposes minimum pricing and e-cigarette ban

02-Apr-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

The Welsh Government has set out its intention to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol and is proposing to ban e-cigarettes in pubs and other enclosed spaces.

Pub trade slams Public Health England's 'inappropriate' statistics

02-Apr-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Industry figures have criticised Public Health England’s “inappropriate” use of statistics and called for the Government agency to start engaging with the alcohol industry.

Chelmsford launches late-night levy consultation

21-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs, bars and clubs in Chelmsford will be able to submit responses to a possible late-night levy from next Thursday (27 March), as the council becomes the latest authority to consult on whether to introduce the fee.

E-cigarette brand launches new product to counter vapour concerns

17-Mar-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A Scottish electronic-cigarette maker has claimed to have addressed the growing number of vaping bans in pubs with a new product that doesn’t emit any visible vapour.

Blackpool Council agrees to EMRO rejection

13-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Blackpool Council has endorsed the licensing committee’s recommendation to reject an early morning restriction order (EMRO), which would have banned the sale of alcohol after 3am within the town centre.

Lambeth rejects EMRO after claiming the measure 'needs reviewing'

06-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Lambeth Council has rejected plans for an early morning restriction order, stating that the legislation needs re-examining to see if it is suitable for solving the problem of late-night nuisance from bars and clubs.

Trade must 'rally together' to fight late-night levies, says licensing lawyer

05-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Apathy among the trade towards late-night levies is a big concern and a significant factor in local authorities bringing in the tax, according to a leading licensing lawyer.

Islington takes a step closer to introducing late-night levy

26-Feb-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Islington Council appears a step closer to implementing a late-night levy (LNL) at tomorrow night’s (27th February) decisive public meeting, after it emerged that its licensing committee had already approved the proposals.

Blackpool's EMRO rejection could 'spell the end' of the measure, says licensing law firm

13-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Blackpool Council licensing committee’s rejection of an early morning restriction order (EMRO) could “spell the end of the EMRO” – that’s according to a leading licensing law firm.

Trade welcomes Blackpool EMRO rejection

10-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Leading trade figures have welcomed Blackpool Council’s licensing committee’s rejection of an early morning restriction order (EMRO), which would have banned the sale of alcohol in licensed premises in the town from 3am to 6am.

Police use 'dodgy evidence' in LNL and EMRO cases, say leading lawyers

06-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Police are consistently presenting “dodgy evidence” during licensing hearings on late-night levies (LNL) and early morning restriction orders (EMROs), leading licensing lawyers have claimed.

Blackpool pubs should 'reconsider their business model', says leading licensing lawyer

04-Feb-2014

A leading licensing barrister has suggested that Blackpool’s pubs and clubs should “reconsider their business model”, after claiming the introduction of an early morning restriction order (EMRO) would be “no death knell” for the town’s trade.

Lambeth adjourns EMRO hearing so businesses can give evidence

17-Jan-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Lambeth Council has adjourned a hearing into a proposed early morning restriction order (EMRO), to allow more time for businesses and local residents opposed to the measure to give evidence.

Nottingham launches levy consultation; Blackpool sets new hearing date

07-Jan-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs, bars and clubs in Nottingham will be able to submit responses to a possible late-night levy from Monday 13 January, as the council becomes the latest authority to consult on whether to introduce the fee.

Leeds City Council executive board recommends late-night levy rejection

20-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Leeds City Council’s executive board has rejected proposals to introduce a late-night levy, favouring partnership working instead.

Cheltenham Council second to approve late-night levy

17-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Cheltenham Borough Council is the second local authority in England and Wales to approve proposals for a late-night levy.

Blackpool delays EMRO hearing for second time

09-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Blackpool Council has deferred a hearing into a proposed early morning restriction order (EMRO), which was due to take place from today until Friday, 13 December, after the licensing trade highlighted procedural irregularities in the pre-hearing procedure.

Blackpool Council could be first to face legal challenge over EMRO

05-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Local authorities have been making “dreadful procedural errors” and could face legal challenges from the trade over the introduction of early-morning restriction orders (EMROs) and late-night levies (LNLs), trade bodies have claimed. 

Fuller's bans e-cigarettes from pubs

27-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Fuller’s has banned the use of e-cigarettes inside all its pubs, because the product causes “anxiety” among customers and staff.

Late-night levies & EMROs: progress report

08-Nov-2013 By Poppleston Allen

An update on the situation across the country by licensing specialists Poppleston Allen.

Newcastle implements late-night levy; Kingston rejects EMRO; Blackpool sets EMRO hearing date

01-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Newcastle licensees will begin paying a late-night levy today, after the local council rubber-stamped proposals to introduce the measure in June.

Clapham bars fear Lambeth Council EMRO will force closure

25-Oct-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

Bars on one road in Clapham have warned they face closure if an early morning restriction order (EMRO) proposed by Lambeth Council becomes a reality.

Milton Keynes rejects late-night levy plan

24-Oct-2013 By John Harrington

Milton Keynes council has voted against plans to introduce a late-night levy.

Warrington rejects EMRO; Woking rejects EMRO and late-night levy

16-Oct-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Warrington Council has voted against the introduction of an early morning restriction order (EMRO) and Woking councillors have rejected plans to introduce either an EMRO or a late-night levy.

Harrow Council cancels EMRO

14-Oct-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Harrow Council cancelled its early morning restriction order (EMRO) hearing, due on 10 October, thereby terminating the EMRO process.

Minimum pricing 'least popular' measure to improve public health

09-Oct-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Minimum pricing for alcohol is the least popular measure the government could introduce to improve public health, according to a recent poll conducted by mruk research.

Lambeth council wants 'zoned' opening hours

30-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Lambeth Council in London wants to introduce a zoning system for opening hours and recommends stringent new regulations around licensee and staff training for licensed premises in the borough.

Milton Keynes next for late-night levy

19-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Milton Keynes is set to be the next area to implement a late-night levy.

Industry criticises City of London's late-night levy proposal

10-Sep-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Industry figures have spoken out against the City of London Corporation’s proposal for a late night levy, demanding further research must be undertaken and warning that a fee may undermine existing licensing policy.

Blackpool delays EMRO hearing

23-Aug-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Blackpool Council has deferred a hearing into a proposed early morning restriction order (EMRO), which was due to take place on 4 and 5 September, after a leading licensing law firm highlighted failures in the pre-hearing procedure.

Tameside begins late-night levy consultation

20-Aug-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs, bars and clubs in Tameside may be subject to a late-night levy as the local council is consulting on whether to introduce the fee.

Blackpool licensees support enquiry into 'compromised' EMRO consultation

20-Aug-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Blackpool licensees have praised a leading councillor’s enquiry into the practices of an early morning restriction order (EMRO) consultation after he claimed council staff were “colluding” with the police.

York begins consultation on late-night levy

08-Aug-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

York City Council has launched a consultation on whether to introduce a late-night levy in the city centre.

Blackpool Council leader says EMRO would only affect two nightclubs

02-Aug-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The leader of Blackpool Council has said the introduction of an early morning restriction order (EMRO) would only “lead to two nightclubs closing a couple of hours earlier” in the town, despite an influx of responses from the pub industry condemning the...

Trade urges rethink over Blackpool council's EMRO plans

29-Jul-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The pub trade has urged Blackpool council to rethink its plans for an early morning restriction order (EMRO), saying it will “devastate” the town’s tourism economy and create a “flashpoint” for violence.

Britain's heatwave presents health risk, say environmental health consultants

23-Jul-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Environmental health consultants have warned of the harmful effects of sitting in pub gardens and working in stuffy kitchens.

British Gas to stop selling auto-rollover business energy contracts

17-Jul-2013 By Gurjit Degun

British Gas will stop selling auto-rollover business energy contracts from 1 September 2013.

Action plan for tackling EMROs

08-Jul-2013 By Poppleston Allen

You have heard from a reliable source that your licensing authority may shortly be consulting on whether or not to introduce an early-morning restriction order (EMRO). What should you do? Our action plan lays out suggested steps.