Appeal

Ei Group drops High Court appeal against pubs code adjudicator

28-Feb-2018 By Georgina Townshend

Ei has decided to drop the appeal following "helpful clarity in the matter".

Ei appeals pubs code adjudicator decision at High Court

22-Jan-2018 By Georgina Townshend

The Ei Group is "awaiting a decision" from the High Court after it appealed an award made by the pubs code adjudicator (PCA).

Reduction in VOA offices will be a 'nightmare' for businesses

28-Nov-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The Government's plan to reduce the number of Valuation Office Agency (VOA) offices has been described as a "shambles" that will be a "nightmare for businesses wanting to appeal their business rates", according to global property...

'Wrongly banded' publican urges licensees to check their rateable value

15-Aug-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A publican whose business rates have almost doubled has claimed that despite being told by a Valuation Office Agency (VOA) officer he has been ‘wrongly banded’, he will still have to go through the highly criticised 'check, challenge, appeal'...

Drinks industry following minimum unit pricing court case closely

27-Jul-2017 By Fred A'Court

The UK drinks industry, and the Scottish trade in particular, is following an appeal case in the Supreme Court with more than a little interest for clues on whether minimum alcohol pricing is going to be introduced.

VOA promises to improve challenge and appeal processes for rates

11-Jul-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The Government’s Valuation Office Agency (VOA) said it is working to improve its check, challenge, appeal (CCA) service “as quickly as possible” after complaints from publicans that the website is “not fit for purpose”, leaving businesses which are challenging...

Police release CCTV images after series of pub fruit machine thefts

16-Jun-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Kent police have released CCTV images of three men they are looking for in connection with a spate of pub fruit machine thefts.

Licensing Act 2003

Legal analysis: expert opinion sought by Lords

23-Nov-2016 By Poppleston Allen

Legal experts Poppleston Allen reveal some of the questions asked at the panel session held at the House of Lords select committee this month (November).

Business rates

'Unfair' changes to business rates could cost pubs thousands

12-Sep-2016 By Oli Gross

Proposed changes to business rates revaluation are unfair, unworkable and will potentially cost businesses thousands of pounds, according to the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR).

Great British Pub Awards

Pub Awards: Best Family finalist - The Wrygarth Inn, Great Hatfield, East Yorkshire

08-Sep-2016 By MA

Situated off the beaten track, the Wrygarth Inn has to punch well above its weight to ensure it can pull in the punters both locally and from further afield.

Licensing Act 2003

Lords licensing committee to quiz think-tanks on Act

18-Jul-2016 By James Evison

The House of Lords committee assessing the Licensing Act 2003 and the liberalisation of opening hours will hear from experts tomorrow (Tuesday 19 July).

Crime

Pub closed after licensees fail to report man being shot in head

07-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

A pub has been closed for 90 days despite claims a shooting incident at the venue was a ‘accident’.

Legal advice

Beware of the appeals 'lottery'

20-May-2016 By Poppleston Allen

We are now into the 11th year since ‘licensing reform’ and the old system is becoming a dot on the horizon; anyone involved in the industry for fewer than 10 years is likely to think a ‘transfer session’ means a football transfer window-inspired drinking...

Business rates appeals

Government's business rates proposal would 'fail' to deliver meaningful reform

11-Jan-2016 By Oli Gross

Proposed changes to the business rates appeals system are unhelpful and will fail to deliver meaningful reform, experts have argued.

Business rates

Will new appeals system help prevent unfair business rates?

06-Jan-2016 By Oli Gross

A proposal to help licensees struggling with incorrect business rates has been broadly welcomed but industry leaders fear a new appeal system may not do enough for publicans.

Business rates

Pubs to be charged to appeal business rates as part of system shake-up

30-Oct-2015 By Mike Berry

Licensees wanting to challenge their business rates bills will have to pay a fee in future under new government proposals.

"Terrible" review despite saving customer's life

TripAdvisor's advice a "joke" after life-saving staff branded "terrible"

17-Aug-2015 By Oli Gross

A frustrated licensee has vented his anger about TripAdvisor's appeal system after a receiving a “terrible” review despite a barman saving a wedding guest’s life.

Advice

Legal Q&A: Appeals against licensing committees

14-May-2015 By Poppleston Allen

This week's legal Q&A includes appeals against decisions of licensing committees and when training records should be considered inadequate.

Pubs at risk of summary review following single violent incident

20-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Licensed premises are at risk of being taken to a summary review on the basis of just one violent incident, following a High Court precedent case.

Punch gives guidance to tenants on HMRC machine tax rebates

08-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch Taverns has reiterated its position regarding the “several hundred million pounds” collectively owed by pub operators in “overpaid” tax rebates, following more letters sent by HM Revenue & Customs to tenants.

Legal advice: combating cumulative impact

15-Oct-2014 By Poppleston Allen

The words ‘cumulative impact’ can strike fear into the hearts of operators across the land, particularly if they appear at a time when you are looking to start a new business or extend your hours. Those two little words instantly prompt thoughts of applications...

Insight

A guide to business rates

09-Sep-2014 By Ian Sloan

Recent statistics reveal that more than 90% of councils have not informed firms they are able to back-date a claim under the Small Business Rates Relief scheme.

Pub owner wins appeal against ACV listing

26-Aug-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The owner of a pub that has been closed for seven years has successfully appealed the listing of his site as an asset of community value (ACV).

Pubco Star calls for action over business rates appeals

10-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Star Pubs & Bars has hit out at the business rates appeal process, claiming that appeal cases for some of its pubs have taken four years to settle.

Met Police forced to pay £30k in costs after licensing furore

24-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Metropolitan Police has been ordered to pay almost £30,000 in legal costs, after withdrawing its appeal of a licence review decision in which officers were accused of presenting “slanted” evidence.

HMRC demands return of pubs’ machine tax rebates

26-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub operators will shortly receive demands to pay back the “several hundred million pounds” collectively owed in “overpaid” tax rebates in 30 days, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has confirmed.

Islington Council 'disappointed' by High Court ruling against pub protection policy

04-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A London council said that it is "disappointed" by a High Court ruling, after it lost a legal challenge against plans to redevelop a pub into housing.

Licensee fails in appeal over illegally showing Sky

03-Feb-2014 By Michelle Perrett

A licensee who appealed his prosecution for showing Sky Sports programmes illegally had it dismissed at Liverpool Crown Court on 23 January 2014.

Pub trade faces paying back 'hundreds of millions' in overpaid tax rebates

29-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

The pub trade must pay back “several hundred million pounds” in overpaid tax, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has said.

HMRC to pursue pubs for overpaid VAT

23-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is to pursue pub operators and licensees to recover money previously paid out in overpaid VAT.

Leading licensing barrister slams councils over “iron-rule” approach to cumulative impact zones

28-Oct-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

A leading licensing barrister has slammed local councils for their “iron-rule” approach to cumulative impact zones (CIZs) after helping Sainsbury’s win a court appeal against a refusal of a premises licence.

Hackney pub stays as Asset of Community Value after landmark appeal ruling

17-Oct-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The Chesham Arms in Hackney, east London, will remain listed as an asset of community value (ACV), after winning a landmark tribunal hearing against the owner of the property.

First appeal to be made against Asset of Community value pub

15-Oct-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

Campaigners hoping to save a Hackney pub are set to find out the outcome of an appeal against its asset of community value (ACV) status on Thursday (17 October).

Planning consultant: Gov't planning appeal system changes could make process slower

24-Sep-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A planning consultant has claimed that the Government’s changes to the planning system may make the process slower.

Media Protection Services in liquidation

14-Aug-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Media Protection Services (MPS), the company that was previously responsible for investigating and prosecuting licensees for the use of foreign satellites, has been placed into liquidation.

Premier League to increase targeted visits over foreign satellite use

24-Jul-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The Premier League has appointed ID Inquiries to carry out investigations into the unauthorised and illegal use of foreign satellite systems in pubs in the UK.

High court judge rules interim steps continue pending appeal

17-Jul-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A high court judge has ruled that during a summary review any interim steps will be effective until the whole case is over.

Welsh pub owner appeals for help to save his business

19-Jun-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

A freeholder in Wales has appealed for help to save his remote village pub after attempts to get the local community involved have proved unsuccessful.

Business rates appeal woe continues for pubs

06-Jun-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Pubs in England and Wales continue to be caught up in the business rates appeals backlog with more than 5,000 licensees waiting for their 2010 appeal cases to be heard, the PMA has learned.

Licensee to appeal roof terrace plan refusal

29-May-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A licensee is appealing a planning permission refusal for a roof terrace, even though he has been successful in extending his premises licence for the area.

Westminster council legal judgment could limit scope of licensing fees

24-May-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A ground-breaking case that is believed to cost Westminster City Council £2m could limit the scope of fees which licensing authorities will be able to charge under the Licensing Act 2003.

Licensee wins High Court appeal over pub closing hours

22-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A publican has won his appeal at the High Court after a licensing sub-committee and magistrate failed to give reasons for reducing the premises hours.

Outdoor seating: overcoming the complex application process

15-Feb-2013 By Poppleston Allen

Any licensee who has applied for a pavement licence or temporary tables and chairs licence will no doubt be well aware of the often complicated process that is involved.

CVS renews campaign calling on Gov't to freeze business rates and improve system

06-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Business rates firm CVS is renewing its campaign that calls on the Government for a freeze in business rates and to improve the system.

FSB urges action from banks on mis-sold interest rate swaps

01-Feb-2013

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is calling for “swift” action from banks to compensate businesses caught up in the mis-selling of interest rate swaps.

Pubs to see faster planning permission appeals

27-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees in England are a step closer to seeing a faster and more transparent approach to planning permission appeals, as the Government begins a consultation on the issue.

Premier League stops using Media Protection Services to prosecute licensees

30-Aug-2012 By Adam Pescod

The Premier League will no longer use Media Protection Services (MPS) to prosecute licensees it believes have illegally infringed its rights by broadcasting football through a foreign satellite system.

Premier League loses appeal over foreign satellite football case against Cheshire pub

16-Aug-2012 By Adam Pescod

The High Court has ruled that a prosecution brought by Media Protection Services (MPS) on behalf of the FA Premier League against a pub in Cheshire was "incompetent".

How pub business rates are calculated

11-Jul-2012 By Michael Yass

Business rates are one of the highest costs for pubs, and many licensees disagree with how much they have to pay. So how does the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) work it out? Ratings surveyor Michael Yass, director at Chesterton Humberts, de-mystifies the...

BBPA's 'frank exchange' with PPL over planned rise

29-Jul-2011 By Michelle Perrett

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) had a "frank exchange of views" with PPL last week over the planned increase in fees.