Licensing

Advice given: 'There are some measures that you can introduce to try and avoid being in the position where a customer who has had too much to drink will want to or attempt to drive home and these include encouraging customers who are driving not to drink,' says Poppleston Allen's Natasha Beck

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

Vigilance urged on drink driving

By Natasha Beck, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

The THINK! ‘Mates for Life’ drink drive campaign has recently relaunched again recently with the aim of encouraging friends to intervene if someone is attempting to drink and drive, with the message ‘A mate doesn’t let a mate drink and drive.’

Get onside with the rules: Poppleston Allen issues warning over excessive fan behaviour (credit: Getty/skynesher)

Footy fans warned over pint throwing ‘assault’

By Poppleston Allen, licensing solicitors

Licensing solicitors Poppleston Allen have warned pubs that football fans who throw pints when the on-screen action gets exciting could be committing assault.

Advice provided: Poppleston Allen provides tips on hosting lotteries and raffles (image: Getty/JodiJacobson)

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Top tips on football fun and festivities

By Alex Tomlinson, trainee solicitor, Poppleton Allen

The men’s World Cup and Christmas festive season has quickly come upon us.

Advice given: Poppleston Allen suggests dealing with the problem head on is the way forward (image: Getty/7713Photography)

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How to deal with noise complaints

By Graeme Cushion, partner, Poppleston Allen

Poppleston Allen partner Graeme Cushion looks at the rules around music noise and residents.

Working together: Government should listen to sector's concerns regarding licensing (Getty/ SolStock)

Licensing Act follow-up ‘extremely disappointing’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Government has published the long-awaited follow-up to the House of Lords Liaison Committee publication ‘The Licensing Act 2003: post-legislative scrutiny’, but it has been dubbed “extremely disappointing”.

Rules revealed: Poppleston Allen looks at the law around under 18s serving alcohol (image: Getty/angeluisma)

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Rules around under-18s serving alcohol

By Jonathan Smith, partner, Poppleston Allen

Thinking of employing your 17-year-old daughter to work behind the bar? Short staffed to such an extent that you need to think about the children of some of your friends helping out in the restaurant? With the well-publicised difficulty in recruiting...

SIBA concerns: sales of cans and bottles have already stopped at many small breweries in Scotland (credit: Getty/FotografiaBasica)

SIBA Scotland urges gov to rethink DRS

By Gary Lloyd

The Society for Independent Brewers (SIBA Scotland) has urged the Scottish government to take another look at its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) proposal because it threatens the existence of small breweries.

Advice provided: Poppleston Allen's James Anderson offers pointers on obtaining a late licence

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Licensing and the issue of trading late

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...

Month-long action: the popular autumn internationals will be available to screen in pubs

Autumn rugby series on two HD channels

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.

Well deserved: George Orwell's perfect pub the Compton Arms retains licence (Credit: Getty/Henrik Sorensen)

Compton Arms retains licence

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.

Influx of complaints: pubs and late-night venues receiving more noise complaints post pandemic (Credit: Getty/Flashpop)

Night-time economy 'under attack'

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).

Technology option: many pubs use apps for customers to place orders (image: Getty/Klaus Vedfelt)

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

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...

Thinking out loud: Ed Sheeran recognises the importance of music venues such as pubs (credit: Dan Martensen)

Ed Sheeran backs MVT plan to save music pubs

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.

Advice given: Poppleston Allen has issued tips on licensing and insolvency (image: Getty/Adam Gault)

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Don’t forget the licensing implications of an insolvency

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.

Football tournament: the first game of the World Cup is set to take place on Sunday 20 November (image: Getty/svetikd)

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

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..

Compliance tips: staffing is just one of the current issues Poppleston Allen highlights as a challenge for the sector at the moment (image: Getty/sturti)

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Compliance in the face of adversity

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.

Warning: SLTA boss Colin Wilkinson says the damage is already done

SLTA: sector crisis is ‘worse than the pandemic’

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”.

Legal expertise: Suraj Desor looks at licensing plans

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

Best laid (licensing plans)

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.

Licensing tips: the free event is taking place on 28 September in London's Covent Garden (image: Getty/mbbirdy)

Emma McClarkin to talk at free licensing event

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.

Winter of discontent: The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington fears the industry will not last without help

Opinion

I think we’re alone now...

By Ed Bedington

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

Many things to talk about: discussing the benefits of pubs and breweries to the economy is one key element (credit: Getty/mikedabell)

CAMRA and SIBA demand action on energy prices

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.

Info provided: Poppleston Allen outlines the Licensing Act 2003 (image: Getty/SolStock)

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

Minor or major – it makes a difference

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.

Widening needed: the trade bodies have called for the relaxation of permitted development rights to be in place for the whole of the hospitality sector (image: Getty/Alistair Berg)

‘Pubs at risk of being forgotten about’

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".

Ongoing policy: the Government recently announced another extension to the fast track pavement licence (image: Getty/S_Z)

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

Extension to pavement licence regime

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.

Rule change extension: off-sales will be permitted for a further year (credit: Getty/Paper Boat Creative)

NTIA welcomes extension to off-sales

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.

Top tips: Poppleston Allen has some advice on licensing rules in outside areas (image: Getty/Muenz)

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

What are the licensing rules for beer gardens?

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.

Legal eye: Poppleston Allen's Suraj Desor explores the late-night levy

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

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?

Licensing solicitor Poppleston Allen on off-trade sales after Covid

How do off-trade sales work post-Covid?

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.

Expert tips: Poppleston Allen partner Jonathan Smith outlines licensing hearings

Licensing hub - Legal with Poppleston Allen

The lowdown on licensing hearings

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...

Professional thoughts: licensing expert James Anderson gives his take on the current rules in place and any amends that could benefit operators

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The musings of a licensing lawyer

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.

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.

Spotlight

(credit: Getty/ViewApart) Experts give comment for the Beer Report 2024 The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast episode 78 Making the most of your ghost Competition kicked off: entry for the 2024 Great British Pub Awards is now open Hunt is under way for the Great British Pub of the Year

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