License - Hospitality

Licensing proposal

Fears pubs could become victims of council "public health creep"

18-May-2016 By Oli Gross

Proposed new licensing guidance from Camden council has led to fears that pubs will become victims of an unprecedented “health creep” resulting in operators increasingly responsible for the well-being of customers.

Licensing law

Legal Q&A: TENs and the '499' people rule

16-May-2016 By Poppleston Allen

This week's legal Q&A includes information on complying with Temporary Event Notices - as well as negative 'vetting' of incidents that may cause a licence review.

Councils

More calls for roadworks compensation

28-Apr-2016 By Oli Gross

Local councils have been urged to do more to help pubs suffering from loss of trade due to nearby roadworks or risk “shooting themselves in the foot”.

Late night sector

'Impossible' licensing climate blamed for closure of much-loved Hackney club

11-Apr-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Hackney-based club and bar Dance Tunnel has announced it will close for good in August, blaming the ‘impossible’ licensing climate in the borough.

Trade concern at disability report

06-Apr-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Concerned licensees have hit back against a House of Lords report which argued that pubs breaching the Equality Act by not providing facilities for disabled people should be refused a licence or be shut down.

FLVA president: good relationship with BDM is vital

31-Mar-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Licensees must strive to forge closer relationships with their business development managers (BDMs) and pub companies, according to Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association (FLVA) president Michelle Dwan.

Licensing law

Cumulative impact policies: the fears over their use

21-Mar-2016 By Poppleston Allen

You may have recently read about the new so-called ‘Lockout Laws’ that are being imposed in the entertainment district of Sydney, Australia.

Events support

Checklist for celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday

14-Mar-2016 By Poppleston Allen

This year, the country will get together, hopefully on a hot summer’s day, to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday.

Crime

Illegal football: Majority of publicans would report venues as licensee fined £70k

14-Mar-2016 By Oli Gross

Publicans have little sympathy for fellow licensees who play Sky Sports illegally, with a poll indicating a majority (55%) are likely to report a pub in their area if they were screening live sport without a licence.

Barred customer advice frustrates hosts

11-Mar-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Frustrated licensees have hit out at restrictions preventing pictures of barred customers from being displayed in back-of-house areas.

Crime

Pubs warned over barred people pics

03-Mar-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Licensees who display pictures of barred customers in back-of-house areas risk breaching the Data Protection Act according to head of licensing at JD Wetherspoon Nigel Connor.

New bill could lead to more licences being revoked

18-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

A new bill that could lead to more personal licences being suspended and revoked has been introduced in parliament.

Legal advice

Know the details of your new pub before purchasing

12-Feb-2016 By Poppleston Allen

It is surprising how many operators still find themselves in difficulties when negotiating the acquisition of new premises to trade as a licensed venue.

Poppleston Allen

Legal advice: Planning permission pitfalls

11-Feb-2016 By Jonathan Smith & Nick Arron

One of my clients called me recently and asked about what seemed like a simple temporary change to his operation.

LVAs

Focus: The demise of the once-mighty LVAs

09-Feb-2016 By Phil Mellows

Early in the new year, one of the pub trade's great institutions slipped a little further into the dustbin of history when Norfolk and Norwich Licensed Victuallers Association (LVA) was wound up after more than 160 years. Phil Mellows investigates...

Entertainment

Joint music licence from PPL and PRS for Music 'will end confusion'

02-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Music licensing bodies PRS for Music and PPL have confirmed they will launch a new company, offering a joint licence for businesses looking to get a public performance licence.

Late-night levy

Cheltenham late-night levy to be scrapped after scheme flops

01-Feb-2016 By Oli Gross

Cheltenham’s late-night levy is set to be scrapped after the scheme failed to raise the funds expected.

Police

Birmingham pub loses licence after nearby murder of teenager

26-Jan-2016 By Oli Gross

A pub has lost its license after a teenager was murdered near the venue during an event which police had warned may attract armed gangs.

EMRO

Hartlepool pubs face proposal to restrict opening hours

25-Jan-2016 By Oli Gross

Pubs in Hartlepool are yet again facing a drive to restrict opening hours due to claims that alcohol misuse is having a devastating impact in the area.

Police

Pub warned for playing Peppa Pig theme during police visit

11-Dec-2015 By Oli Gross

Licensees have been urged to respect police after a pub was warned for playing the Peppa Pig soundtrack when officers visited.

Black market

Half of publicans risked licence by turning a blind eye to dodgy dealers

01-Dec-2015 By Oli Gross

Licensees have been warned that turning a blind eye to dodgy deals may lead to losing their licence, after research revealed nearly half of publicans didn’t kick out known perpetrators.

Legislation

Licensing Act anniversary: 'disproportionate deference' made to residents

26-Nov-2015 By Emily Sutherland

A leading licensing expert has expressed his concerns about the impact of the Licensing Act, arguing that licensing officers were failing to use the ‘common sense the act requires’ and pointing to a rise in bureaucratic standard conditions.

News analysis

Objections to a new Brewdog bar are a sadly familiar case for pubs

12-Nov-2015 By Oli Gross

Pubs often suffer from negative portrayals during consultations - whether it’s a debate about a new opening or the late night-levy, objections slam venues as a burden on society.

£19k fine and prison warning for playing music without a licence

09-Nov-2015 By Oli Gross

The licensee of a London bar has been fined £19,000 for playing music illegally, and warned he faces prison with further offences.

Legal advice

Changes to late-night refreshment rules

02-Nov-2015 By Poppleston Allen

If you have ever made a licence application within a cumulative impact zone, you would be forgiven for thinking that your local takeaway has one of the highest crime rates in your area.

Asset of community value

Struggling widowed licensee's pub sale blocked by ACV application

27-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

The Campaign for Real Ale has defended a move to block a licensee selling her pub which she struggled to run following the death of her husband.

Legal advice

All fright on the night: Licensing tips for Halloween

23-Oct-2015 By Poppelston Allen

The spooky season is almost here and hosting a Halloween event can be a great way to increase footfall as well as boost a pub’s profits.

Legal Q&A: Tenants not agreeing to licence transfers

23-Oct-2015 By Poppleston Allen

This week's legal Q&A includes tenants not consenting to licence transfers.

Illegal football

Licensee fined £6,500 as Sky Sports aims to protect paying customers

22-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

A Bolton licensee has been fined £6,500 for showing Sky Sports illegally as the broadcaster signals intentions to protect its paying customers.

Unlimited fines

Illegal broadcaster fined £4k as Sky visits 700 pubs a week

13-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

A licensee has been fined £4,481 for airing Sky Sports without a license as pubs are reminded they face unlimited fines for broadcasting.

Professional services

Need a lawyer?..professional service providers you need

12-Oct-2015 By Fiona McLelland

You’re probably in the business because you love running your own pub. Not for the love of paperwork, legalities and accounts. That’s where professional service providers come in.

Pub Code

Pubs code: trade warned ignorance will be no excuse

05-Oct-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Comments made by Grocery Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon have sparked fresh warnings that the pub trade must read up on the statutory code before it is introduced next year.

Legal Advice

Freshers Week and student promotions - legal Q&A

17-Sep-2015 By Poppleston Allen

This week's legal Q&A looks at student promotions ahead of the glut of freshers arriving on campuses up and down the country in the next few weeks.

Birmingham venue hangs onto licence by searching own staff for weapons

17-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

A Birmingham nightclub has clung on to its licence by offering to search its own staff for weapons.

SkySports

Licensees face "unlimited fine" for illegal broadcasting

09-Sep-2015 By Oli Gross

Licensees have been warned about the potentially “unlimited fine” they may face for airing sport illegally after two publicans were fined a combined £11,152.

Copyright

Licensee hit with £6,000 fine for Sky copyright breaches

01-Sep-2015 By Mike Berry

An Aylesbury pub licensee has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 for illegal Sky use.

Legal advice

Be prepared for pub inspections

24-Aug-2015 By Poppleston Allen

As an operator of licensed premises, you may be well used to the licensing authority carrying out inspections.

Legal

Advice on online alcohol delivery services

24-Aug-2015 By Poppleston Allen

This week's legal Q&A includes information on planning an alcohol delivery service, taking orders by phone or online.

Training is the first line of defence

20-Aug-2015 By Paul Chase, CPL Training

The licensed trade, particularly in town and city centres, continues to suffer from too much regulation and over-zealous enforcement activities.

Late-night crisis: industry warns of 'ever-mounting pressure' on licensees

17-Aug-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Night Times Industry Association chairman Alan Miller has criticised the ‘ever-mounting’ pressures placed on licensees running late-night venues and said that more work is needed to protect businesses from restrictive legislation.

UK's first pub zoo frustrated by licensing complications

03-Aug-2015 By Oli Gross

The UK's first pub zoo will have to wait to entertain customers as licensing problems have forced it to screen off animal enclosures.

Police

Licence revoked after police find drugs and underage drinkers in Welsh pub

21-Jul-2015 By Oli Gross

A Welsh pub has been ordered to close after police found evidence of disorder linked to drugs and underage drinkers at the premises.

Advice

Legal Q&A: Outside drinking rules

13-Jul-2015 By Poppleston Allen

This week's legal advice includes examples of outside drinking rules and fears over personal licences...

Legal

Can drunkenness be judged?

09-Jul-2015 By Graeme Cushion & Lisa Sharkey, Poppleston Allen

The issue of drunkenness and licensed premises rarely strays far from the spotlight in the world of licensing.

Legal analysis

Checking closure powers

03-Jul-2015 By James Anderson & Nick Arron, Poppleston Allen

So far as licensed premises are concerned, the main provisions of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 came into effect on 20 October 2014, but it is only recently that we have seen evidence of these provisions being put into force.