Legal

Government proposal: the High Street Rental Auction scheme would permit councils to auction the rental rights of commercial high street properties vacant for more than 12 months in a 24 month period (image: Getty/Marilyn Nieves)

MPs join pub protection calls

By Nikkie Thatcher

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pubs (Pubs APPG) has asked the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee to look at the impact the Government’s proposals for High Street Rental Auctions will have.

Wagging the tail: the Tap & Run renovation began in August 2022

Tap & Run innings set to resume

By Gary Lloyd

Cricket stars Stuart Broad and Harry Gurney have set a date for the reopening of their Tap & Run pub after fire destroyed the site in June last year.

Sector appeal demonstrated: like-for-like sales have improved for the seventh month in a row (credit: Getty/LeoPatrizi)

Sales growth in April tempered by inflation woes

By Gary Lloyd

Managed pub, bar and restaurant groups in Great Britain achieved like-for-like and year-on-year sales growth of 6.9% in April 2023 against last year, according to the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker.

Setting sites on new sights: Fresh openings and revamps are on the cards

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Admiral Taverns pub reopens after £155k revamp

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

There are new sites from BrewDog and NWTC, while Admiral Taverns, Greene King and Shepherd Neame reopen pubs after significant investments.

Help for elderly: there are plenty of easy changes pubs can make to be dementia-friendly (credit: Getty/Dean Mitchell)

£7.25m backing for dementia-friendly pubs scheme

By Gary Lloyd

A scheme to introduce simple menus, training for staff and launch a Google map with dementia-friendly pubs charted on it has been backed with £7.25m funding by the UK Government.

Pub repairs: how the pubs code helps (pictured: PCA Fiona Dickie)

Pub repairs – how the pubs code helps

By Fiona Dickie, Pubs Code Adjudicator

Disputes over pub repairs can be a real cause of dissatisfaction for the tenant, as well as the landlord. Knowing and using Pubs Code rights can help avoid such disputes arising or help tenants to resolve them if they do.

Gambling rules: the proposed changes are subject to consultation (image: Getty/RobinsonBecquart)

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High Stake Gambling reform – A gamble not worth taking

By Alex Tomlinson, trainee solicitor, Poppleston Allen

On 27 April 2023, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport published its Gambling White Paper, aimed at tackling gambling reform for the digital age. The proposed reforms vary from increased ‘know your customer checks’ to extra powers for...

Interest rate rise hitting pubs will not tackle inflation

OPINION

Strangling hospitality demand not the solution to inflation

By Ed Bedington

The idea that raising interest rates to try to curb consumer spending in pubs, bars and restaurants is another slap in the face for a sector that seems to have become the whipping boys for the authorities.

Planning rights issue: CAMRA has warned many pubs could be lost for good (credit: getty/onfilm)

CAMRA calls on Gov to save high street pubs

By Gary Lloyd

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) believes the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ bill could put the future of thousands of pubs at risk and has called for their planning rights to be protected.

Information collated: Poppleston Allen outlines the main points when dealing with noise complaints (image: Getty/Gary John Norman)

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Keeping the volume of complaints down

By Andy Grimsey, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

Dealing with complaints from neighbours arising from music at your premises is a bit of a dark art. There is no black and white answer and the law on public nuisance is blurry to say the least.

Seaside scenes: Brighton crowned most vibrant late night city (credit: Getty/ Pavel Babic)

Brighton best city for a night out

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Brighton has topped lists as the UK’s best place for a night out, but more than half (54%) of cities have seen nightlife go downhill over the past decade.

Advice given: Poppleston Allen looks into if operators can serve under 18s low alcohol beer (image: Getty/Klaus Vedfelt)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

The rules for serving low alcohol beer to under 18s

By Suraj Desor, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

This week's column looks at the licensing law around serving low alcohol to customers under 18 years old.

Legal progression: the draft bill will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny (image: Getty/JLGutierrez)

How will Martyn’s Law impact pubs?

By Nikkie Thatcher

With the draft legislation for Martyn’s Law being published, The Morning Advertiser has looked at how the bill will affect operators.

Struggling sector: Independent businesses have borne the brunt of closures (credit: Getty/ dmbaker)

12.6 venues lost per day in 2022

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The hospitality sector lost nearly 4,600 venues in the 12 months to March 2023, but closures slowed early this year.

Safe and responsible gambling: new white paper showed positive steps towards fairness (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

Gambling White Paper shows 'positive steps'

By Rebecca Weller

The white paper on gambling provides an “opportunity to improve” protection in pubs and demonstrated “positive steps” towards “fairness”, trade bodies from across the sector have stated.

Special weekend: Jonathan Smith (right) expects pubs to be allowed to trade until 1am so long as their current hours go up to 11pm at least (credit: Getty/Alessandro Biascioli)

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Extended hours for the King’s coronation weekend

By Jonathan Smith, managing partner, Poppleston Allen

In 1952, the last time we enjoyed a good old knees up at a coronation, the sale of alcohol was governed by the Licensing Act 1921, pubs were faced with many of the restrictions that had applied during the First World War, such as the afternoon break and...

Safety first: new legislation for taxi drivers has gone live (credit: Getty/Mike Harrington)

NTIA welcomes stringent taxi legislation

By Gary Lloyd

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has welcomed toughened taxi licensing legislation that will help ensure hospitality staff and customers are safer while travelling at night.

Licence advice: Poppleston Allen outlines how a negative visit from a licensing officer is often followed up with an advisory letter (image: Getty/sturti)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Surviving a licensing inspection

By Graeme Cushion, partner, Poppleston Allen

I have noticed in recent months an apparent increase in the number of licensing compliance visits that are being conducted at licensed premises. Unusually, these seem to have centred mostly around relatively low-risk premises such as restaurants.

Acquisitions and revamps: Big news for Punch, Electric Star, Admiral Taverns and Hydes

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Electric Star & Punch announce new pubs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Electric Star and Punch have added pubs to their portfolios, while Hydes and Inn Collection Group sites have reopened after revamps.

Amendments to DRS: pubs will not have to also be a return point for recycling under new rule changes (credit: Getty/cagkansayin)

Pubs to benefit from amendments to DRS

By Gary Lloyd

Changes to the proposed Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in Scotland that are set to benefit pubs and craft drinks producers have been welcomed by the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA).

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Property of the week

KENT - HIGH QUALITY FAMILY FRIENDLY PUB

£ 60,000 - Leasehold

Busy location on coastal main road Extensively renovated detached public house Five trade areas (100)  Sizeable refurbished 4-5 bedroom accommodation Newly created beer garden (125) Established and popular business...

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