QWhen we get our licence, what sort of a sign do we have to put up over the doorway?
AIt isn't always necessary to put the traditional black strip with white lettering directly over the entrance to the premises.
The Licensing Act does require some form of lettering to state that you and any other licensee are licensed for those premises, but the actual form that the notice has to take is not laid down by law.
Some benches (it is difficult to tell how many) have issued directions under section 183 of the Licensing Act as to the wording and the type of sign.
So the best idea is to ask the clerk to the licensing justices when you next contact him, whether there is any special form laid down for the district.
If there is not, then as long as the notice is "in a conspicuous place" and is either painted on or fixed to the premises, then the legal requirements will be satisfied, whatever colour or style of writing is used.
It is not clear whether any rules will be made under the new law for the "designated premises supervisor" to be named in a similar way.
Certainly, there is no requirement directly in the bill, but I suppose the Minister could issue regulations requiring such a notice to be displayed.
Off-sales when bar closes QWe have a separate off-sales department at this pub.
Someone has asked that if we close the bars during weekday afternoons because of lack of trade, must we also keep the off-licence section closed, or can it still operate?
There is also a bell both on the door and on the counter of the off-sales section.
AOf course, you can sell in the afternoons, just like any other off-licence holder.
I suspect that you have been misled by this person saying that you are only allowed by the terms of your licence to sell "both on and off the premises" at the same time!
If you close the on-sales section, then you are clearly not doing both.
However, nothing in the law states that pubs cannot open at different times for different things throughout the day.
It would, therefore, be perfectly in order for you to close the bars of your house, but continue with off-sales in the afternoon, if you wish.
A word of warning, however.
I notice that your pub is in a popular tourist area.
If you allow people who have bought off-sales to drink in the areas around your pub, unsupervised, during the afternoon, you may risk complaints and an application for a restriction order.
This could apply to periods when you actually wanted to have on-trade on your premises, not just off-sales.
It is best to be on your guard against this happening.
Member stand in for barman QOn the nights our club barman takes off, a member of the committee stands in as barman.
He is paid for this out of club funds.
He also receives an honorarium from the club as entertainments officer.
Is this legal?
AIt is common practice in registered clubs for some members to assist in the running of the club, e.g. by standing in for employees in the way you describe.
Unless the rules specifically prohibit payment of any kind to members (and some do), they may receive remuneration for work they undertake on behalf of the club.
But it is most important that the rules must allow for payments to be made to members at the discretion of the committee, or the honorarium itself would indeed be unlawful.
It is not enough for the committee to vote on the issue the rules must first allow it.
The main difficulty I find is where an employee is also a member and a disciplinary issue is involved.
I have always expressed reservations about members being employees for this reason, because as a co-owner he is technically employing himself, and different disciplinary rules may apply.
The club should be conscious of this and have clear procedures to ensure that there are no problems.
ends