Legislation

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Your voice matters: embracing council consultations for cumulative impact assessments

22-Aug-2023 By David Inzani, partner, Poppleston Allen

The UK's vibrant and varied hospitality industry has long been a cornerstone of its cultural identity. However, as the landscape has evolved and dynamics shifted since the introduction of the Licensing Act 2003, so too has the approach to regulating...

Police attend protest at Crooked House site

22-Aug-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Police officers were in attendance at the former site of the Crooked House in Himley, Staffordshire this week after receiving reports a group of protesters were there.

Review of the Week

'Recruitment is getting a bit easier'

18-Aug-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington met up with Yummy Collection's Anthony Pender to chat through the week's news, from takeaway pints to energy and new openings.

Gov tells councils to ‘get pubs open’ for World Cup final

18-Aug-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The Government is encouraging councils in England to “get pubs open earlier” on Sunday ahead of the Lionesses historic final in the Women’s World Cup.

Gov urged to allow early Sunday opening for World Cup final

17-Aug-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is among many in the industry to call on the Government to allow pubs to serve beer from 10am this Sunday so both pubs and customers can benefit from England reaching the Women’s World Cup final.

Government decision to allow off-sales to continue welcomed

14-Aug-2023 By Gary Lloyd

A U-turn by the Government that will see off-sales continue at pubs and bars has been welcomed by the sector.

More than 100 independent night clubs lost in past year

09-Aug-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Recent research has revealed the nightclub industry has suffered a loss of almost 400 venues between June 2020 and June 2023.

Sector sees ‘boost’ as card spending up 7.6% in July

08-Aug-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Consumer spending at bars, pubs and clubs in the year to July was up 7.6%, new data from Barclaycard has revealed.

Takeaway pints to be banned from September

08-Aug-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rules allowing UK pubs to sell takeaway pints will come to an end next month (September).

Pub closures hit highest quarterly figure in a decade

07-Aug-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pub closures reached the highest quarterly figure in more than a decade in the second quarter of 2023 (Q2), smashing the previous record set in Q1, according to data obtained by Price Bailey.

The Power Struggle

Act now to tackle the energy crisis

07-Aug-2023 By Ed Bedington

With volatile energy costs and operators locked into sky-high deals, the Morning Advertiser has teamed up with UKHospitality to launch a campaign, The Power Struggle, to ensure the industry is heard loud and clear as part of a consultation process.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

A Jekyll and Hyde approach to outside areas?

03-Aug-2023 By Andy Grimsey, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

I wonder what is so different between allowing the provision of tables and chairs in outside areas at pubs and bars and allowing for off-sales of alcohol to facilitate customers consuming alcohol on those very tables and chairs?

Interest rate rise will 'exacerbate financial challenges'

03-Aug-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Bank of England (BoE) interest rates increase will “exacerbate financial challenges” faced by the sector, according to industry trade bodies.

Survey shows 'lack of faith' in political leaders to protect pubs

03-Aug-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Almost half of Brits do not trust the Conservative, Labour or Liberal Democrat party leaders to look out for the interest of British pubs, new research has revealed.

OPINION

What does the alcohol duty change mean for pubs?

03-Aug-2023 By Eddie Murphy, managing director, PLS

By now you will understand from 1 August, alcohol duty has been changed by the Government in the UK, leaving aside much of the technical details (mainly for producers) please see a summary of the primary issues affecting publicans.

OPINION

Thanks for next to nothing, Mr Prime Minister

02-Aug-2023 By Ed Bedington

The days when Rishi Sunak was viewed as the white knight of the pub trade, riding to the rescue with furlough, VAT cuts, business rates holidays and (maybe) Eat Out To Help Out are now something of a dim and distant memory.

More than 750 pubs shut in H1 2023

01-Aug-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Some 30 pubs a week closed across the first six months of the year, “shocking” figures from the Campaign for Ale (CAMRA) have revealed.

Operators split on allowing pubgoers to vape

31-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs are divided on whether customers should be able to vape on site, a recent poll from The Morning Advertiser has revealed.

£1bn water pipeline could put UK's #1 gastropub out of business

31-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Plans to replace a water pipeline running through Lancashire will be a "complete disaster" for Britain’s No.1 gastropub, the Parker’s Arms, according to its licensee.

Managed pubs see 10.8% sales growth in June

26-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Sales in managed pub, bar and restaurant groups saw 6.7% year-on-year growth in June.

Gov consultation on gaming machines in pubs welcomed

26-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Pub trade bodies UKHospitality (UKH) and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) have welcomed a consultation by the Government that is seeking views on matters relating to gaming machines in pubs and other venues.

Smaller businesses hit hardest as one in 18 sites close in past year

26-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Small, independent hospitality businesses are bearing the brunt of the 5,736 sites lost in the past year said UKHospitality (UKH) in reaction to new research.

Ofgem reforms 'welcomed' by sector

26-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Ofgem’s reformation plans to address the ongoing energy crisis have been welcomed by the sector, but trade bodies warn the Government must act “urgently” to avoid more business failures.

POLL: Do you permit vaping in your pub?

21-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Local councils have urged the Government to crackdown on the marketing of vapes, with the number of British adults using the products reaching record heights last year.

Extra sales revenue streams for on-trade ended by Gov

21-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The Government has decided it will end automatic provision for pubs and bars to sell alcohol for off-site consumption and will halt the increased number of temporary event notices (TENs) permitted too.

BII campaign calls for pubs to engage with MPs

20-Jul-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Operators have been urged to write to their MPs and invite them to their pubs, in a bid to show the importance of the sector in communities as part of a new campaign.

GREEN INITIATIVE

‘Single-use plastic is more than straws’

20-Jul-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The increased use around single-use plastics has become a global sustainability issue, according to the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.

BrewDog boss calls for Gov to sort out train strikes ‘mess’

20-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

BrewDog chief executive James Watt has called on the Government to “step in” on the continual rail strikes and “sort this mess out”.

Customers less likely to visit pubs as fixed rate mortgages end

19-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

As more people come off fixed mortgages there is a cash squeeze on them meaning they are less likely to visit pubs, according to research from Oxford Partnership.

Sector 'not out of the woods' as inflation eases

19-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The downturn in inflation is “positive news” for the sector but firms are not “out of the woods yet”, according to industry leaders.

Over 170 pubs join legal claim against energy giants

19-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs may have overpaid by more than £1,000 per year on energy costs, a law firm has revealed as it plans to help businesses recover "secret commissions" paid to brokers by energy companies.

Warning over alcohol tax changes increasing closures

18-Jul-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The changes to alcohol duty that are set to be implemented in a matter of weeks could intensify pub closures, the sector has been warned.

E.ON boss: sector too 'high risk' to invest in

17-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

A Middlesex pub could see expansion plans “cancelled” after its energy supplier rejected an application to extend the site’s supply, deeming the entire hospitality sector too “high risk”.

Carlsberg’s Russian subsidiary seized by state

17-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The Russian subsidiary of beer manufacturer Carlsberg has been taken over by Russia after president Vladimir Putin signed an order to put it in “temporary management” of the state.

Late-night levy 'more targeted' despite calls to scrap it

17-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Changes to the late-night levy (LNL) show a more “targeted” approach from the Government but any extra cost will be felt “most severely” by independent businesses.

OPINION

Championing code compliance

17-Jul-2023 By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

The role of the pubs code adjudicator is varied and one part of it involves taking time to understand how the regulated pub companies run their businesses and how they embed their code duties into their relationships with their tied tenants. The regulator...

Late-night levy changes 'damaging blow'

13-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Changes to the late-night levy (LNL) are a “damaging blow” but a “step in the right direction”, according to trade bodies across the sector.

‘Young people are the lifeblood of our industry’ says SLTA president

12-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Long-established hotelier Murray Lamont, who recently took over as president of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA), is campaigning to attract more young people into hospitality and combat the sector’s recruitment crisis.

Business rates consultation 'ignores fundamental issues'

12-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The Government’s consultation into business rates, in particular Empty Property Relief (EPR), puts “additional burdens” onto ratepayers and ignores the systems “fundamental issues”.

'Chronic' recruitment challenges 'biggest threat' to sector

11-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

One of the “biggest threats” to hospitality businesses is the inability to recruit good teams amid “chronic” staff shortages.

SLTA laments move to axe night buses in Glasgow

11-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has claimed a move to cancel night buses in Glasgow is “yet another hammer blow” for the licensed trade.

How are alcohol duty rates changing?

07-Jul-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Ahead of the changes to alcohol duty rates in under a month (1 August), The Morning Advertiser takes a look at what the new system will look like.

Drinks sales up, inflation rises, calls to scrap duty hikes

30-Jun-2023 By Rebecca Weller

June saw a variety of ups and downs for the sector, from year-on-year growth in drinks sales to rising food inflation, to DRS delay's and pleas to scrap alcohol duty hikes and pubcos "named and shamed".

SLTA: Gov move is ‘really good news’ for on-trade

30-Jun-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has welcomed the Scottish government’s move to take action on non-domestic rates, foster closer collaboration with businesses and set up a review board in its New Deal for Business Group.

Review of the Week

Inflation 'is a bit of a worry'

30-Jun-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with Oisín Rogers who's about to open the Devonshire Soho, to get his views on the week's news.

UKH: growing business costs will cause 'entrenched inflation'

29-Jun-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Forcing firms to stay locked into high-priced energy contracts as food costs soar will result in “entrenched inflation”, UKHospitality's chief executive has stated.

WSTA: 'It’s not too late for Gov to scrap crippling duty hikes'

28-Jun-2023 By Rebecca Weller

SMEs will be “most at risk” when “crippling” duty hikes come into force next month, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has stated.

Scotland visitor levy ‘yet more red tape’ for hospitality

27-Jun-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

As the Scottish Parliament’s consultation on the proposed visitor levy opens, UKHospitality (UKH) Scotland has urged venues to respond and outline the impact it will have on their business.

BBPA recommends scrutiny over MUP findings

27-Jun-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Scotland’s alcohol minimum unit pricing initiative has shown “positive” results but leaves much to be “considered” before a decision on its continuation is made.

Legalities around displaying drinks prices

27-Jun-2023 By Suraj Desor, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

The law on displaying prices for alcoholic drinks was changed some years ago with the introduction of The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.