Licensing

Liverpool late-night levy 'stifling growth'

02-Nov-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

There have been calls for Liverpool City Council to abolish its late-night levy, in response to a consultation on removing it.

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Licensing and the issue of trading late

25-Oct-2022 By James Anderson, partner, Poppleston Allen

I attended the London Property Forum last week which had three principal speakers and a panel to discuss issues relevant to the trade; two of the speakers were from late-night businesses, operators of cocktail bars and nightclubs respectively, and the...

Autumn rugby series on two HD channels

13-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Pubs will be able to screen the Autumn Nations Series of rugby matches in HD after Prime Video teamed up with Sky Business to broadcast them.

Compton Arms retains licence

13-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

A London pub favoured by Animal Farm author George Orwell has reportedly retained its licence following complaints from nearby residents claiming the venue posed a health hazard and was a public nuisance.

Noise complaints ‘decimating UK’s cultural history’

11-Oct-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Concerns have been raised about noise crackdowns on music venues and nightclubs by night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord.

Night-time economy 'under attack'

06-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The UK’s Night-Time Economy (NTE) has been “under attack” as escalation of noise complaints becomes a “real issue”, according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).

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Self-service in pubs – is it worth the risk?

06-Oct-2022 By Felix Faulkner, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

We have seen the casual dining market evolve considerably over the last few years with a number of high profile restaurant chains struggling to survive since Covid and some entering company voluntary arrangements (CVAs) in an effort to off-load under-performing...

Ed Sheeran backs MVT plan to save music pubs

26-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Music star Ed Sheeran is backing a campaign from Music Venue Trust (MVT) to take control of the freeholds of music venues, such as pubs, that put on live music to save them from closure.

Pub served noise abatement orders due to laughter

26-Sep-2022 By Rebecca Weller

A Yorkshire pub has been served with three noise abatement orders despite not having changed its operating style for more than a decade.

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Don’t forget the licensing implications of an insolvency

23-Sep-2022 By Andy Grimsey, senior consultant solicitor, Poppleston Allen

It was shocking although not surprising to hear insolvencies for pubs, restaurants and bars were up 59% on last year, as reported recently in The Morning Advertiser.

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Licensing tips to avoid the trips at this year’s World Cup

14-Sep-2022 By Suraj Desor, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

With the Football World Cup fast approaching, whilst the competition presents lots of opportunities for licensees – which is very welcome - there are some potential pitfalls that they need to be aware of to ensure a safe and enforcement-free tournament..

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Compliance in the face of adversity

08-Sep-2022 By Graeme Cushion, partner, Poppleston Allen

With the pandemic now fading somewhat into the background, a whole new series of challenges seem to be making life as difficult as possible for operators.

SLTA: sector crisis is ‘worse than the pandemic’

08-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has warned the crisis for hospitality businesses struggling with the cost-of-living crisis plus spiralling energy and utilities bills is “worse than the pandemic”.

‘Take action now’ plea to new PM

05-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Trade bodies have urged new Prime Minister Liz Truss to act immediately to save the sector.

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Best laid (licensing plans)

02-Sep-2022 By Suraj Desor, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

Licensing plans form part of the premises licence and they must be an accurate representation of the layout of the premises.

Emma McClarkin to talk at free licensing event

31-Aug-2022 By The Morning Advertiser

British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) boss Emma McClarkin OBE will be speaking at a free licensing event, held by licensing experts Poppleston Allen.

Opinion

I think we’re alone now...

26-Aug-2022 By Ed Bedington

What will it take for this Government to wake up and face the reality of the energy crisis for business?

CAMRA and SIBA demand action on energy prices

23-Aug-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has invited Conservative leadership candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss to the pub to discuss soaring energy prices, increases in stock prices and plunging consumer confidence.

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Minor or major – it makes a difference

18-Aug-2022 By Andy Grimsey, senior consultant solicitor, Poppleston Allen

Those with a long licensing memory will recall the years between November 2005 (when the Licensing Act 2003 first had effect) and June 2009.

‘Pubs at risk of being forgotten about’

10-Aug-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

A trio of Scottish trade bodies have called on the Government to include pubs from current planning proposals with one labelling the exclusion as "nothing short of discriminatory".

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Extension to pavement licence regime

28-Jul-2022 By David Inzani, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

The Government’s decision this month to extend the temporary provision for quicker and cheaper pavement licences for hospitality businesses was a nugget of good news among the current headlines.

New PPL tariff ‘significantly lower than original proposal’

26-Jul-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Music licensing company PPL has announced a new specially featured entertainment (SFE) tariff will come into force from 1 January 2023.

NTIA welcomes extension to off-sales

15-Jul-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has welcomed the Government’s move to allow hospitality sites to continue selling alcoholic drinks to be consumed outside their premises.

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What are the licensing rules for beer gardens?

14-Jul-2022 By Alex Tomlinson, trainee solicitor, Poppleston Allen

British summertime has well and truly arrived and beer gardens across the country are back in full swing, with Covid restrictions now a distant memory.

Gov slammed over lack of progress on Licensing Act recommendations

11-Jul-2022 By Gary Lloyd

A committee set up to review its analysis of the Licensing Act five years ago has slammed the Government over the lack of progress made.

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Do competitive socialising operators have the upper hand in premises licence applications?

06-Jul-2022 By David Inzani, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

David Inzani of solicitor Poppleton Allen examines the rise of the UK's competitive socialising space.

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Musings of a licensing practitioner on the days of remote hearings

29-Jun-2022 By Jonathan Smith, partner, Poppleston Allen

At the onset of the pandemic all licensing authorities held remote hearings either by Teams or Zoom to a varying degree of success.

The late-night levy – where are we now and what is next?

24-Jun-2022 By Suraj Desor, associate solicitor at Poppleston Allen

With the news that Nottingham City Council is considering removing the late-night levy that is currently in place, 10 years on from its introduction, how has it fared and what next for the levy?

How do off-trade sales work post-Covid?

17-Jun-2022 By Poppleston Allen, licensing solicitors

Operators may recall that in July 2020, the Government passed legislation through the Business & Planning Act 2020 that provided a relaxation for those premises that did not have the benefit of off-sales provision on their premises licence.

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The lowdown on licensing hearings

10-Jun-2022 By Jonathan Smith, partner, Poppleston Allen

Licensing law involves a lot of detailed administration. There is a lot of form filling (thankfully mostly online nowadays), particularly in respect of varying your Designated Premises Supervisor, changing the name and address of the licence holder or...

Licensee hit with injunction over illegal Sky Sports screenings

07-Jun-2022 By Gary Lloyd

A licensee has been made the subject of an injunction – the first of its kind – prohibiting her from screening Sky Sports at any pub unless she enters the correct commercial contracts with Sky.

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The musings of a licensing lawyer

27-May-2022 By James Anderson, partner, Poppleston Allen

These are a few thoughts on my job as a licensing lawyer and what is good and what changes would help.

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Don’t get into a royal mess with your neighbours

18-May-2022 By Jonathan Smith, partner, Poppleston Allen

The licensed trade has recently received a very welcome double boost in the form of licensing law.

Alfresco licences to be made permanent in ‘welcome boost’ for pubs

09-May-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pavement licences for outdoor dining will be made permanent this week in new laws trade bodies welcome as ‘fantastic news’ for the sector.

SBPA calls for late-night economy champs in Scotland

27-Apr-2022 By Gary Lloyd

New ‘hospitality and late-night economy champions’ should be appointed in Edinburgh and Glasgow, according to the Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) as part of its manifesto launch ahead of local elections on 5 May.

Extended hours for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee ‘fantastic news’

26-Apr-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs, bars and nightclubs in England and Wales are set to have extended opening hours over the June bank holiday to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee; a move heralded as “fantastic news” for the sector.

Nightcap announces first Blame Gloria opening outside London

20-Apr-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and the Barrio Familia group of bars, has announced another opening for the rapidly expanding group in the form of a Blame Gloria site, which sits under the Adventure Bar Group umbrella,...

NTIA fires broadsides at UK and Welsh governments

14-Apr-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has joined forces with leading figures within the sector in criticising the Government’s draft terms for its inquiry into the full impact Covid has had for hospitality.

SLTA: end of mandatory face coverings ‘not before time’

14-Apr-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has welcomed the announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that the legal requirement to wear face coverings on public transport and in some public places – including licensed hospitality – will move...

Give the Government credit WHEN credit is due

14-Apr-2022 By Dermot King, CEO, The Oakman Group

The Oakman Group chief executive Dermot King responds to Lord Smith of Hindhead’s reaction to the hospitality sector over funding.

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Top tips on TENs

12-Apr-2022 By Andy Grimsey, senior consultant solicitor, Poppleston Allen

We all know how useful temporary event notices (TENs) can be. Particularly in the years 2022 and 2023, when the Government has, in order to support business following Covid, increased the limits for TENs from a maximum of 15 per premises to 20, and a...

Digital marketing could make your pub sweepstake illegal

08-Apr-2022 By Richard Bradley, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

With the pandemic forcing pubs to close for large periods over the past two years, we saw many establishments focus their attention on digital marketing to make sure their customers didn’t forget about them.

Entries sought for National Pubwatch Awards 2022

05-Apr-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubwatch schemes are being urged to enter the National Pubwatch Awards 2022, which recognise the work of local initiatives and efforts to provide safe drinking environments for customers and staff.

More time to negotiate MRO under new pubs code rules

24-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Changes to the pubs code, including allowing more time for market-rent-only (MRO) option negotiations, will come into effect from Friday 1 April.

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.

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Update on Business & Planning Act

18-Mar-2022 By Suraj Desor, associate solicitor at Poppleston Allen

We are now into the second year since the provisions of the Business & Planning Act were introduced by the Government in July 2020, with a view to helping licensees trade as they reopened post- pandemic.

Trade bodies lament past two years and demand help from Budget

17-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Trade bodies have lamented the two-year anniversary of the closure of the pub sector and called on the Government to help the sector if it is to stand a better chance of recovering from economic adversity.

SLTA fears for bar staff over face mask extension

16-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) fears the government’s decision to continue forcing pub customers to wear face masks could lead to angry confrontations with bar staff.

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It’s not what you’ve done, it’s what you may do that counts!

10-Mar-2022 By James Anderson, partner at Poppleston Allen

I have written about this before, but it is becoming an increasingly significant part of the licensing process. The track record and proven operating ability is not as significant as it used to be.

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A little slice of European culture in west London

18-Feb-2022 By Felix Faulkner, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a catastrophic time for the licensed industry, however not in every sense.