License

Publicans urged to check licences ahead of British Summer Time

22-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Publicans are being urged to check their licence now to see if they are likely to lose an hour of trading when British Summer Time (BST) begins at the end of March.

Pubs in Peterborough to see cumulative impact policy

18-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs in parts of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, could see the council introduce a policy that restricts the growth of licensed premises.

Torquay licensees slam local council's 600% fee increase for outdoor seating

14-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Pubs in Torquay are fearing for their future as some venues on the Devon town’s waterfront face staggering rises of up to 600% in the cost of outdoor seating.

Pubwatch schemes provide vital guidance

13-Mar-2013 By Michael Kheng

I am pleased to announce that I have recently been asked by National Pubwatch to be its regional representative for the East Midlands, a position that I have proudly accepted.

Get Licensed responds to training malpractice concerns

11-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Get Licensed has responded to training malpractice concerns, revealed in the PMA last week.

SIA licence holders may have to retrain after investigation finds malpractice among trainers

08-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Publicans and door staff with a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence may have to retrain after an awarding body has withdrawn more than 1,000 certificates.

Legal guide: applying for a personal licence

07-Mar-2013 By Poppleston Allen

Licensing law firm Poppleston Allen offers a step-by-step guide on how to apply for a personal licence to sell alcohol from a licensed premises.

Croydon Council slammed over cumulative impact zone plans for pubs and clubs

27-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Plans to introduce 17 cumulative impact zones (CIZs) across Croydon have been slammed as anti-competitive and disproportionate.

Pub premises licences: advantages of a minor variation

21-Feb-2013 By Poppleston Allen

It’s often tempting to only consider making an application to vary your premises licence when you want to extend your hours or add a new licensable activity.

Late-night levy: lawyers warn pubs over change of trading hours

20-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees who opt to apply for fewer trading hours when a late-night levy is introduced in their area should make sure that the change is only in place while the levy is in force.

Croydon pubs and clubs targeted as part of alcohol crackdown

20-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Croydon Council has launched a 12-week consultation on changes to its licensing policy, which includes proposals to introduce cumulative impact zones in 17 wards.

Swansea pubs could see cumulative impact zone

19-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs in Swansea’s city centre could see their local council introduce a policy to restrict the growth of licensed venues in some areas.

BII announces semi-finalists for Licensee of the Year Award

19-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Twelve licensees from across the UK have progressed to the semi-finals of the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) Licensee of the Year Award.

BII defends itself against accusations over pubs advisory service

19-Feb-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The BII has hit out at accusations it was responsible for the delay in the setting up a pubs advisory service accusing the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) of blocking the move.

Pubs minister to speak at BII annual lunch in May

15-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs minister Brandon Lewis is set to speak at the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) annual lunch in May.

Exclusive: Blackpool pubs and clubs face early morning restriction order which could "devastate" town

14-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Proposals for an early morning restriction order (EMRO) in Blackpool have been slammed by licensees who claim it would “devastate” the town’s night-time economy.

Sussex Police pulls out of Worthing Pubwatch

12-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Sussex Police have pulled out of Worthing Pubwatch after a “breakdown in the relationship”.

Licensees could face £1,000 fines over TV licences

08-Feb-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Licensees are being warned they could face fines of up to £1,000 if they do not have separate TV licences for their pub premises and private accommodation.

PRS boss vows to simplify music royalty tariffs for pubs

24-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Playing music in your pub can be a big revenue driver, but licensees need to be on the ball when it comes to the licence they require. Gurjit Degun speaks to Robert Ashcroft, chief executive of the music royalties collection agency PRS for Music, about...

How to cope with licensing enforcement visits

18-Jan-2013 By Poppleston Allen

So what approach should be taken to enforcement visits? These can be a nerve-racking experience for even the most experienced managers as enforcement officers comb the premises looking for infractions and non-compliances.

Shepherd Neame intervenes to prevent EMRO on pubs in Deal

06-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

Proposals for an early morning restriction order (EMRO) to be imposed on pubs in Deal, Kent have been dismissed following a campaign by Shepherd Neame.

Pub trade slams Government's Alcohol Strategy proposals

05-Dec-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The Government’s consultation into its Alcohol Strategy has failed to consider enough deregulation commitments for pubs, according to industry bodies.

PPL issues first ever code of conduct

04-Dec-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Music royalties collection agency PPL has released its first ever code of conduct, committing to dealing with licensees in a prompt, transparent, fair and respectable manner, in accordance with the code.

PRS for Music publishes revised code of conduct

30-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Music royalties collection agency PRS for Music has launched a revised code of conduct which aims to deal with licensees in a “fair, honest, impartial and courteous” manner.

Only 1% of pubs register for machine games duty

29-Nov-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Tens of thousands of pubs could face penalties if they fail to sign up to the new machine games duty (MGD) before the end of 2012.

FLVA calls on Enterprise Inns to soften its rent review strategy

29-Nov-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA) has challenged Enterprise Inns to soften its rent-review strategy in the wake of its claim that average licensee income is £45,000 per annum.

Pub poker: licensees should be wary of what constitutes "private gaming"

13-Nov-2012

You may remember an article I wrote on the pitfalls of private poker earlier in the year in which I highlighted the potential dangers of allowing unlimited stakes and prizes in your pub. I was moved to write the piece as I had become aware of a number...

BII launches search for Licensee of the Year 2013

06-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Entries are being taken for the BII Licensee of Year Award 2013, which is open to all licensees across the UK.

Innsatiable: Controversial Farnham venue granted premises licence

05-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Simon Atkins, the owner of controversial Surrey 'furniture store' Innsatiable, insisted he was not pressured by local licensing authorities into applying for a premises licence, after one was granted to him.

Staff theft: Licensees warned to "keep an eye out" at their pubs

02-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Licensees must “keep an eye on their staff at all times” to deal with the issue of employee theft, which cost British retail and hospitality businesses £1.7bn last year.

Jeremy Allen Award launched by BII and Poppleston Allen

02-Nov-2012

The BII has launched a new award in conjunction with Poppleston Allen in memory of the licensing law firm’s founding partner Jeremy Allen, who passed away in 2011.

Pubs urged to get legal advice to avoid licence reviews

31-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

Licensees risk seeing their pub’s reputation shattered if they don’t seek expert legal advice following routine licensing visits by police. That is the warning from Jon Wallsgrove, partner at Blake Lapthorn licensing solicitors, who was speaking at the...

Licence reviews: Be aware of activity outside your pub

31-Oct-2012

It is hard to escape Boris Johnson at the moment. Following hard on the heels of the great success of the London Olympics, he is currently riding the wave of popular opinion. But for those in the licensed trade, especially in London, that popularity may...

Home Office publishes latest statistics on premises licences

31-Oct-2012

There were 202,000 premises licences in force in England and Wales on 31 March 2012, according to the latest Home Office statistics on premises licences.

Publican forks out £1k for ignoring smoking ban and serving outside licensed hours

30-Oct-2012 By Gurjit Degun

A licensee in Acton, west London, has had to fork out more than £1,000 after serving drinks outside of his licensing hours and allowing customers to smoke in his pub.

Pubs warned to check licences as clocks change this weekend

26-Oct-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs will be able to trade for an extra hour this weekend as the end of British Summer Time approaches.

Legal tips: Dealing with the police over pub licence transfers

22-Oct-2012

I have encountered several occasions recently where objections have been made by the police over the transfer of a premises licence, and to someone named as the designated premises supervisor (DPS).

Nottingham late-night levy could be introduced without proper consideraton of city's nightlife

17-Oct-2012

I am becoming increasingly concerned about the political influence locally on the late-night economy of city centres. Local authorities have a crucial role to play; they promote and invest, and exercise controls through planning and planning policy, traffic...

St Austell Brewery signs deal with CPL Training

15-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

St Austell Brewery has entered a partnership agreement with CPL Training to ensure its staff are trained to the highest standard.

CCTV: Make sure your pub is registered

15-Oct-2012 By Poppleston Allen

I was interested to read the recent report of a Lancashire bar owner being prosecuted by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for failing to register his use of CCTV.

Innsatiable: Pub trade welcomes controversial venue's premises licence application

10-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

Key industry figures have hailed the news that the owner of the controversial ‘free bar’ Innsatiable, in Farnham, Surrey, has applied for a premises licence.

BrewDog case shows how pubs can attain licences or extensions in cumulative impact zones

09-Oct-2012 By Poppleston Allen

Readers may have seen the Publican’s Morning Advertiser news article on 20 September regarding BrewDog in Leeds. BrewDog is a specialist craft brewery that does things differently. Leeds City Council rejected an application to grant them a new premises...

Live Music Act: How will it affect TENs and pub discos?

09-Oct-2012 By Poppleston Allen

This week we consider how the Live Music Act (LMA) 2012 affects temporary event notices, discos and conditions relating to non-licensable activities.

Local councils could be taken to High Court over early morning restriction orders

05-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

Local councils could be taken to the High Court over early morning restriction orders (EMROs), according to a leading licensing lawyer.

National Pubwatch commissions research on the value of pubwatch schemes

02-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

National Pubwatch (NPW) has commissioned Leeds Metropolitan University to undertake a study to evaluate the effectiveness and strengths of local pubwatch schemes around the UK.

Greater Manchester Police closes all pubs and licensed premises in Droylsden over "funeral feud" fears

02-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

Greater Manchester Police have taken the “unprecedented” step of closing all licensed premises in a town for fears of crime and disorder surrounding a funeral.

Licensees, police and councils should work together to tackle problem drinking

21-Sep-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees, local police and local authorities must work together “without fear of reprisal” to effectively tackle problem drinking.

Why unlicensed Innsatiable is inn-tolerable and totally inn-excusable

06-Sep-2012 By Rob Willock

The PMA’s investigation last week into the retail activities of Innsatiable, the Farnham ‘furniture shop’ that gives away free alcohol, supported by the sale of beermats at £2.75, has caused mixed feelings in the offices of the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

Innsatiable: Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt calls on Government to take action against 'unlicensed bar' in Farnham, Surrey

06-Sep-2012 By Adam Pescod

South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt is calling on the Government to take action against a “furniture shop” in Farnham that is giving away free alcohol to the public from its unlicensed bar.

Pubs could reach doorstaff "crisis point", warns BII chief executive Peter Thomas

29-Aug-2012 By Adam Pescod

BII chief executive Peter Thomas has warned that up to 60,000 licensed premises could hit “crisis point” if they don’t act quickly to protect their door supervisor’s ability to work following a recent change to the Security Industry Authority’s (SIA)...