Licensed Premises

Pubs can open for extra 2 hours on Jubilee weekend

23-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The licensing hours for pubs, bars and clubs will be extended for an extra two hours for three nights over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend in June, to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne.

16 licensed venues closed per day from July to September

13-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

A total of 980 licensed premises were lost in the period from restrictions being fully lifted in July to September this year, new data has revealed.

Trade saw marginal drop in June sales compared to 2019

19-Jul-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The managed pub, restaurant and bar market saw a decrease of just 1% in June, compared to the same month in 2019, research has found.

25,000 licensed venues still to reopen

01-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Just under a quarter (23.7%) of licensed premises in Britain have remained closed despite being permitted to reopen for indoor trading.

Just 38% of licensed venues have space to trade outside

29-Mar-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

About four-in-10 licensed venues have outdoor areas to trade from, when permitted, no earlier than 12 April, research has found.

Restrictions forced 12k licensed venues to close ahead of lockdown

10-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Trading restrictions meant almost a third of Britain’s licensed premises shut their doors on October – signalling the sector could be substantially reduced upon reopening in December, new research has found.

Branded food pubs

Branded food pubs up 19% in past year

14-Dec-2016 By James Wallin, MCA

The number of branded food pubs increased 19.1% in the year to September – equivalent to more than one new addition everyday - the latest Market Growth Monitor has claimed.

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

Legal advice: The risk of fire hazard rules

10-Mar-2015 By Poppleston Allen

It goes without saying that there is a very large amount of regulatory compliance, which affects licensed premises. Fire safety is a such an area, which is very important, bearing in mind the tragic consequences that can flow from a failure to comply.

Only half of pubs compliant with fire safety regulations

24-Feb-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs and clubs have been warned that they could be losing money through out-of-date fire assessments, after a Government report outlined that only half of licensed premises are complaint with the Fire Safety Order.

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.

Home Office stats show rise in number of licensed premises

15-Dec-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

The number of licensed premises in England and Wales has risen 3% in the last five years to reach 204,300 as of 31 March 2014.

North Tyneside adopts cumulative impact policy

18-Aug-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

North Tyneside Council has approved a policy to curb new pub and club licences.

Top tips on pub glassware safety

11-Feb-2014 By Poppleston Allen

Reports of glassing incidents inevitably lead the police, council authorities, judges and politicians calling for a nationwide ban on the use of glassware in licensed premises and promote the use of polycarbonate bottles and drinking vessels. These tips...

Government proposes to further deregulate live and recorded music

30-Oct-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The Government has issued a consultation proposing to further deregulate Regulated Entertainment, including live and recorded music in licensed premises.

How to... Deal with under-18s in pubs

18-Sep-2013 By Poppleston Allen

Here is a quick, and hopefully helpful, guide on the basics of serving under-18s in pubs, clubs and restaurants.

Third of London pubs failing fire safety tests

18-Dec-2012 By Gurjit Degun

More than a third of licensed premises in London have failed a fire safety audit over the past 12 months, according to a new report by fire expert Safety Management (UK).

Tangled web of licensing law

01-Feb-2012 By Peter Coulson

The tangled web of modern licensing law has reached a new level recently, if the consultation document on early morning restriction orders and the late-night levy is anything to go by.

The limits of responsibility

11-Oct-2011 By Peter Coulson

There is really nothing new in licensing. I see that a great fuss is being made in certain circles about a recent case concerning noise from departing customers.

Pubs warned on illegal AWP machines

31-May-2011 By MA Reporter

Pubs are being urged to double-check that they do not have any gaming machines that are operated illegally after a series of police seizures. The Gambling Commission seized evidence from nine licensed premises on 24 May.

Untangling a mandatory mess

23-Mar-2010 By Peter Coulson

This week the House of Lords finally got around to examining the new mandatory conditions for licensed premises, says Peter Coulson. In my opinion,...

Irish pub trade in 'freefall'

02-Nov-2009 By Ewan Turney

Over 1,500 pubs, clubs and restaurants have closed in Ireland over the past five years costing thousands of jobs, according to a new survey.

Paul Smith: "Oldham's blanket review is neither proportianate or reasonable

19-May-2009

On my travels over recent weeks one topic of conversation has cropped up a great deal: Oldham. Both the operators and the statutory bodies are...

SBPA slam Scottish last orders plan

19-May-2009 By Matt Eley Matt

A trade group has hit back at plans to stop people entering any licensed premises in a Scottish city after 12.30am. In February The Publican revealed...

Award scheme assessors flock to BII course

28-May-2008

Over 200 people are now able to assess the social responsibility standards of licensed premises after taking the BII's course

Pub smoke inspections fall as compliance stays high

10-Jan-2008

Councils are continuing to wind down inspections of English pubs to see if they comply with the smoking ban. A new Department of Health survey of 91%...

Pub smoking inspections fall

03-Jan-2008 By John Harrington

Councils are continuing to wind down inspections of English pubs, with an 11% fall between October and November 2007

New guide to reduce violence at pubs

03-Oct-2007

A new guide has been released to help reduce the risk of violence at licensed premises. The guide - Managing Safety in Bars, Pubs and Clubs - has...

Anti-thug laws need strengthening

13-Sep-2007

Last week's lead story on the leniency shown to violent offenders in pubs, who may get away with just a caution, is rather underlined by the...

Licensing@aol.com ...

20-Jul-2006 By Peter Coulson

Are painted signs binding? QI took over this pub after Christmas and have been struggling to retain staff. Recently, I had a visit from a council...

How to avoid false claims

09-Jun-2006

Fraudulent claims against licensed premises are on the rise. Cases of people slipping, tripping and falling are becoming more common but an alarming...

Urban pubs targeted by developers for conversion

11-Oct-2005

Recent sales of pubs in the London area suggest the redevelopment of licensed premises for use as housing continues to grow.Even requirements over...

Best Pubwatchof the year

03-Feb-2005

This award is sponsored by Laurel Pub Company and is aimed at recognising the group that has made the most effort in the past year to understand and...

Machines will soon make headlines

13-Jan-2005

It is interesting to note just how much control the justices still exercise over the number of AWP machines allowed on licensed premises. This...

Smoking's part of pub culture

17-Jul-2003

The proposal to ban smoking in public places is flawed. Future implications have not been thought through. Two or three years ago, I would come out...

Police bar raids make solicitor uneasy

17-Oct-2002

by The PMA Team A leading licensing solicitor has questioned whether police time was well spent in a covert operation, called "Operation Sconcer",...

Children in pubs: a summary

30-Jan-2002

Prince Harry's alleged activities at the Rattlebone Inn in Sherston have resulted in yet more media attention on the issue of underage drinking....