Partial victory for trade as Lords are defeated over live music
04-Jul-2003
All pubs will have to apply for an entertainment licence for some kinds of live music, after the House of Lords failed to defeat the Commons over...
Reform stuck in groove called musical chairs
03-Jul-2003
Today, the House of Lords will reconsider last week's extraordinary compromise amendment to the Licensing Bill on small-scale live entertainment...
Kids ban speeds on reform
03-Jul-2003
Unaccompanied children will be barred from pubs under the new licensing regime after the government made a key concession to help push the Licensing...
House of Commons rejects live music amendment
25-Jun-2003
Concerns over live music in pubs has brought the government to a head-on collision with the House of Lords over the Licensing Bill.The House of...
Government could be forced to back down over live music
24-Jun-2003
The government could be forced to back down over the issue of live music in pubs following a House of Lords stand over the Licensing Bill. Last week...
Trade blow as new bill is pushed through
19-Jun-2003
The government has completely disregarded the industry's concerns over the biggest changes to licensing since the First World War.Industry bodies...
Guild set to fight children-in-pubs plan
22-May-2003
The Guild of Master Victuallers is to lobby the government over its plans to allow unaccompanied children into pubs.At its annual conference this...
I am honoured to be the 15th guest speaker at the annual lun
22-May-2003
Unlike my predecessors therefore, I cannot bring you greetings from Her Majesty or the Prime Minister or the House of Lords, but I have two...
Camra fears time limit threat to beer festivals
15-May-2003
by Claire Hu The Campaign for Real Ale is, among other organisations, fighting new Government time limits on temporary events, which it fears could...
Licensing Bill amendments
02-May-2003
by David Clifton of thePublican.com's legal team of experts from London solicitors Joelson Wilson.I wrote on this site on April 22 about the scrutiny...
Deregulation talks reveal BACTA's machines of the future to
01-May-2003
MPs have been given a glimpse of the future with a prototype of the next generation of gaming machine which was delivered to the House of Commons....
Musicians say Commons vote threatens pub events
24-Apr-2003
Music campaigners say they are "back to square one" following the decision by MPs, overseeing the committee stage, to overturn pub entertainment...
As the moment approached in the Liquor Licensing Standing Co
24-Apr-2003
As regards abstaining in the main Commons chamber, you have a choice of sitting proudly and defiantly in your seat while everyone else files through...
Reform loses its path in cloud of confusion
10-Apr-2003
Back in December I commented on how the proposed new policy from Westminster City Council on the question of "stress areas" and refusing licences...
Licensing reform update
10-Apr-2003
In an exclusive new series, the British Beer & Pub Association takes a look at what's happening with the Licensing Bill as it nears the end of...
The second reading of the Licensing Bill
08-Apr-2003
Further details on issues raised from the Licensing Billby David Clifton of thePublican.com's legal team of experts from London solicitors Joelson...
Jowell admits failure to consult on reform
03-Apr-2003
by Claire Hu The Government has been forced to admit that it could have avoided a public outcry over many aspects of licensing reform if it had...
FSB vows to fight on over pubco power
03-Apr-2003
The Federation of Small Busi-nesses is to fight on against pubco power, despite last week being told that the Office of Fair Trading sees no grounds...
MPs plan to overturn pub ban on children
27-Mar-2003
The government is planning to overturn the decision by the House of Lords to ban children under 14 entering pubs unaccompanied. Under the Licensing...
Trade groups call
27-Mar-2003
for reform review By Tony Halstead Five leading trade groups are urging MPs to review key areas of the Licensing Bill in the week the Commons gave it...
House of Commons to debate Licensing Bill amendments
24-Mar-2003
by Richard Williams of thePublican.com's legal team of experts from London solicitors Joelson WilsonThe Licensing Bill will have passed through the...
House of Lords victory for live music
17-Mar-2003
Campaigners for live music in pubs won a significant victory in the House of Lords last week.Tory peer Baroness Buscombe tabled an amendment to the...
Lords say 'no' to kids in pubs
06-Mar-2003
The House of Lords has overturned a ruling allowing kids of all ages into pubs unaccompanied.Peers have voted against the Licensing Bill proposals...
Act that needs a bit of bite
27-Feb-2003
I was encouraged by Peter Coulson raising (MA 13 February) "Thug Act needs support", and the apparent lack of commitment to strengthening the...
Latest Lords Bill vote may give residents more say
27-Feb-2003
Licensing reform faces a further setback following a move which could give residents more power.Peers in the House of Lords have agreed that local...
Licensee hits out at local council control of licensing
17-Feb-2003
A licensee has highlighted his disastrous experiences with his local council in a bid to stop the transfer of licensing from magistrates.Peter Lowry...
Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Spor
30-Jan-2003
The most interesting thing I have done in Parliament was to sit on a joint committee of the House of Commons and House of Lords under Lord Puttnam,...
Lording it over the bill
29-Jan-2003
In November last year the Licensing Bill was first published and presented in the House of Lords.So far the bill, which is set to allow flexible...
Minister slams council failure
23-Jan-2003
Local authorities have been accused of acting irresponsibly by charging pubs and clubs excessive fees for public entertainment licences (PEL). The...
Licensing Bill update
22-Jan-2003
By Keith Miller of thePublican.com's legal team of experts from London solicitors Joelson WilsonBy the time you read this, the House of Lords will...
Guidance notes are brought forward
16-Jan-2003
The Government has been forced to provide detailed guidance notes on the new Licensing Bill earlier than it planned after criticism from the House of...
Licensees set to suffera New Year hangover
09-Jan-2003
While the rest of you have been tucking in to your turkey and mince pies, I have been tucked up with the new Licensing Bill. As far as I can see,...
Another rough ride for Bill in House of Lords
19-Dec-2002
by Richard Matthews The Alcohol & Entertainment Licensing Bill has again been mauled by opposition peers in the House of Lords. Amendments have...
Getting ready for a Christmas rush
19-Dec-2002
I have had an anxious e-mail from a licensee who is worried about Christmas extensions not just the last-minute New Year fiasco. A colleague has...
Committee ire at New Year delay
12-Dec-2002
The House of Commons Deregulation Committee has finally approved the draft New Year Order, but not without a swingeing attack on the Government's...
Lords question licensing control move
05-Dec-2002
A Lords debate over the shift of licensing control to local authorities could force the government to clear up some major trade concerns before...
Next week in the Moses Room in the House of Lords, peers of
05-Dec-2002
If the recent debate on the second reading of the Bill in the Lords is any guide, it is already clear that the "Kill the Bill" campaign is itself...
House of Lords raises concerns over reform bill details
28-Nov-2002
The House of Lords has welcomed the decision to allow pubs to open longer but has raised grave concerns over details in the Licensing Bill.On the...
Licensing reform announced in Queen's Speech
13-Nov-2002
Pub goers will be able to have a drink in a pub after 11pm for the first time since the first world war. During the Queen's Speech today (November...
LibDem plan to cut red tape welcomed by pub trade
13-Nov-2002
Plans by the Liberal Democrats to cut bureaucracy for small businesses have been welcomed by the pub trade.The political party has put forward a...
Licensing reform hope rests with Blair
29-Aug-2002
Licensees and trade campaigners are pinning their hopes on Prime Minister Tony Blair who they claim could still make vital changes to licensing...
IFBB adds support to sliding duty scale campaign
13-May-2002
The Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB) has given its support to MPs fighting for a more comprehensive sliding scale for beer duty.Last week...
CAMRA's full pint campaign continues to gather pace
04-Mar-2002
The Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) call for a legal, 100 per cent liquid pint is gaining ground with widespread support from MPs and members of the...
Future of Wrexham uncertain as bid is withdrawn
19-Feb-2002
The future of Wrexham Lager is looking bleak after a bid by a local consortium to buy the UK's oldest lager brand from Carlsberg-Tetley (C-T) was...
Extended opening for Queen's Jubilee approved by House of Lords
06-Feb-2002
The House of Lords has approved extended opening hours for the Golden Jubilee in June.The deregulation order, which is the same as that passed for...
Hope for Wrexham as talks end in truce
05-Feb-2002
Talks to decide the future of the Wrexham Lager brand have ended in a truce.The talks, which were held at the House of Commons last month, were...
CAMRA's pint row reaches House of Commons
01-Feb-2002
The latest debate over the introduction of a law making it compulsory for licensees to serve a 100 per cent liquid pint has reached the House of...
House of Commons approves plans for 36-hour opening for New Year
08-Nov-2001
The House of Commons Deregulation and Regulatory Reform Committee has today given its approval to plans for 36-hour opening over New Year.The...
New Year delay could cost £9m, says Lords
06-Nov-2001
A relaxation of hours on New Year's Eve could save the industry £9m according to the House of Lords.The Lords' deregulation committee has given its...
Licensee unveils election manifesto
17-May-2001
Licensee Joe Duthie, who is standing as an independent candidate in the General Election, has unveiled his manifesto.Mr Duthie, who is licensee of...
