Licensing

Manifesto pledges: the SBPA wants more help to boost the late-night economy (credit: Getty/fotoVoyager)

SBPA calls for late-night economy champs in Scotland

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.

Rapid growth: Nightcap CEO Sarah Willingham says the Bristol opening for Blame Gloria is set to take place later this year (credit: Nicky Johnston)

Nightcap announces first Blame Gloria opening outside London

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,...

Inquiry submissions: Michael Kill and Sacha Lord are two industry leaders quizzing the Government

NTIA fires broadsides at UK and Welsh governments

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.

Welcome news: SLTA MD Colin Wilkinson says the move is long overdue

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

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...

Trade hits back: The Oakman Group's Dermot King says businesses must be able to trade under a fair tax system

Give the Government credit WHEN credit is due

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.

Top advice: tips on how to utilise TENs (image: Getty/buzbuzzer)

Licensing hub with Poppleston Allen

Top tips on TENs

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...

Advice given: pubs that are recent converts to social media and email marketing need to be careful if they are planning to hold sweepstake events for this weekend’s Grand National (image: Getty/golero)

Digital marketing could make your pub sweepstake illegal

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.

National Pubwatch chief executive Steve Baker OBE holding one of the new Pubwatch award trophies

Entries sought for National Pubwatch Awards 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.

Raise a glass: Licensing hours extended for Jubilee weekend in June (Getty/ CreativeDream)

Pubs can open for extra 2 hours on Jubilee weekend

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.

Looking at licensing: the Business & Planning Act includes two provisions that can help operators - fast track pavement licences and temporary off sales of alcohol (image: Getty/LeoPatrizi)

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

Update on Business & Planning Act

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.

Confusing message: the SLTA and UKHospitality Scotland have expressed disappointment over the extension of face mask rules in Scotland (credit: Getty/Drazen Zigic)

SLTA fears for bar staff over face mask extension

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.

Legal expert: Poppleston Allen partner James Anderson

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

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

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.

Outside service: the current provisions on al fresco dining are set to end in September this year (image: Getty/claudiodivizia)

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

A little slice of European culture in west London

By Felix Faulkner, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

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

Expert advice: Poppleston Allen has outlined what a shadow licence is (image: Getty/Tom Merton)

Licensing hub - legal with Popplston Allen

Why landlord sometimes protect their interests with a separate premises licence

By Suraj Desor, Poppleston Allen

I have had two cases recently where a premise licence held in the tenant’s name lapsed (due to insolvency) requiring me to lodge an urgent application on behalf of the landlord for a new licence. So now is as good a time as ever to look at the protections...

Reinvigorating the sector: Fiona Dickie says an agreed investment can improve pubs while deferring the market-rent-only (MRO) option for tenants

How investing in pubs can be a major factor in sector recovery

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

Investment in tied pubs could be a significant element to recovery in the sector. The pubs code supports this while balancing protection of tenants, ensuring they are informed and advised on their rights and the effect of proposed investments. I’d like...

Awaiting decision: the Government is currently consulting on potentially relaxing licensing hours for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Poppleston Allen says (image: Getty/Gudella)

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

Every little helps…

By Andy Grimsey, partner at Poppleston Allen

So, we enter the New Year and it has a surprisingly and rather depressingly familiar feel to it. Putting Covid-related matters aside for once (if that is even possible nowadays) let’s look at some of the more positive things to come in the licensing calendar...

Advice given: there are a variety of things operators should know about hosting raffles in pubs (image: Getty/kevinjeon00)

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

How to host a raffle

By Imogen Moss, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

With the festive season upon us, many operators will be planning raffles. There are a number of rules venues must follow, so here are some top tips to ensure everyone remains a winner.

Stay on top: there are many boxes to be ticked

Licensing hub – legal with Poppleston Allen

Does your business still meet legal criteria since reopening?

By Richard Bradley, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

Last year, Poppleston Allen published a detailed coronavirus pre-opening checklist and while the process of reopening has, to many, been one of tortuous evolution rather than speedy revolution, many of those considerations remain relevant today.

Young people in hospitality: In 2019 of the 1.762bn people employed in the sector, 620,000 were aged 16 to 24

Poll: Would you employ under 18s in your pub?

By Rebecca Weller

More than a third (39%) of hospitality and leisure SMEs are expected to hire more staff this year, recent data from Barclaycard’s SME Barometer showed.

Top tips: Poppleston Allen urged operators to be prepared in understanding situations and circumstances (image: Getty/Henrik Sorensen)

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

Taking care of taking care

By Andy Grimsey, partner at Poppleston Allen

Vulnerability comes in many shapes and sizes. Often people associate vulnerability with particular traits however it is important for operators of licensed premises and their teams to be aware of what makes a person vulnerable along with what can make...

Getting delivery right: ensuring you have a good age verification policy is one aspect to consider

Licensing hub – legal with Poppleston Allen

Stay on the right side of the law with deliveries and takeaways

By Suraj Desor, solicitor Poppleston Allen

With the rise in home delivery and takeaway in recent years, accelerated by the pandemic, many operators such as our online delivery and restaurant clients have seen this as a great way to expand business.

No music, no pub: Petition to save the Duke of Cornwall's licence nears 2,000 signatures (Getty/ milangonda)

Almost 2,000 sign petition to save live music pub

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The licensee of the Duke of Cornwall felt “the whole town plus people from out of Weymouth [are] on our side” as a petition to save the Dorset-based pub’s licence has scored almost 2,000 signatures.

Festive season: Poppleston Allen has issued advice on how to deal with customers who have 'indulged in the odd glass or two more than they usually would'

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

How to deal with a bit too much Christmas spirit

By David Inzani, solicitor at Poppleston Allen

I know that you might have only just packed away your Halloween costumes, however this week the John Lewis advert hit our TV screens and that means only one thing – Christmas is coming.

Open all hours: extension to your operating hours could add to your bottom line

Licensing hub – legal with Poppleston Allen

Opportunity to extend operating hours and reap the rewards

By Imogen Moss, solicitor Poppleston Allen

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the face of many towns and cities and unfortunately, we have seen the closure of many nightclubs up and down the country.

Consultation process: pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie

Tell me your views on the free-of-tie process

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

In a previous column in The Morning Advertiser, I wrote about how the market-rent-only (MRO) option process had become better for tenants, but was still far from perfect.

Information given: Poppleston Allen solicitor David Inzani outlines how insolvency impacts a premises licence

Licensing hub – legal with Poppleston Allen

Dealing with the impact insolvency has on a premises licences

By David Inzani, solicitor at Poppleston Allen

The plight of the hospitality industry in the pandemic has been well documented and, sadly, stories of insolvency and premises closures are currently all too common. It has, therefore, never been more important for licensees to safeguard their premises...

Stay on the right side of the law: the only way to guarantee your Cinch SPFL broadcast is legitimate is to buy through Sky

Combating piracy of SPFL matches in commercial premises

By Sky Business

With the 2021-22 football season well under way, the Scottish Professional Football League (Cinch SPFL) is increasing its anti-piracy work to prevent unauthorised broadcasts of Cinch SPFL matches being screened in pubs and other licensed premises.

Take the fear factor out of operating hours: advice from licensing solicitor Poppleston Allen (credit: Getty/shironosov)

Licensing hub – legal with poppleston Allen

Don’t let Halloween become a licensing nightmare

By David Inzani, solicitor at Poppleston Allen

The autumn events schedule is almost here with Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night fast approaching, hopefully very different propositions to their 2020 Covid-related counterparts.

Latest licensing moves: pavement licences and temporary event notices are among changes (Credit: Getty Images / Thomas Barwick)

Licensing hub – Legal with Poppleston Allen

Your guide to the latest licensing law changes

By Poppleston Allen

As we move out of summer and into autumn, I thought it might be helpful to do a little round up of some of the changes in licensing legislation that have occurred, or will occur, in the next month or so.

Threats on rise: British Institute of Innkeeping's Steve Alton

Opinion

Pubs’ recovery under threat as supply chain issues escalate

By Steve Alton, chief executive, British Institute of Innkeeping

Our sector relies upon an effective integrated supply chain linking raw materials, manufacturing and logistics to ensure our pubs can deliver a fantastic experience for their customers.

Spotlight

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Property of the week

BERKSHIRE - RENOVATED PUB WITH FOUR LETTING BEDROOMS

- Leasehold

Village position close to Reading and Newbury Extensively renovated public house Bar, conservatory, snug and function room (80-90) Four en suite letting bedrooms Two bedroom owner/staff accommodation Part-covered trade garden...

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