Bar Talk

Are you ready for licensing reform?

Ian Moore

The General Napier

South-East London

'I'm ready for it. I applied in March and it was easy because I didn't want a lot of changes. I'll be open until 12 and I didn't apply for a drinking-up time - that's up to me and it appears to be a loophole. The police aren't happy about that because they want to know what time I kick out. My customers are happy about it but I think they'll only use the extra hour at weekends - they have to get up for work after all.'

Tony Robson-Burrell

The Wheatsheaf Oaksey

Wiltshire

'Yes, we're ready. We've opted for 12 on Friday and Saturday only and will stay the same the rest of the week. We work long enough hours already. I do have a late licence for special events. I haven't told many customers because we only intend to use it if we're busy and it's worthwhile. Plus, we're in a residential area so we don't want to shout it off the rooftops.'

Jacque Macey

Fountain Inn Clent Worcestershire

'I'm still waiting for my personal licence but my husband has his. Because of a mix-up we had to resit the exam which we weren't very happy about at the time. But it opened our eyes to the implications of the new laws and I'm glad I did it now. We are allowed to open until midnight but we intend to use this as and when we need to. I don't think it will affect us that much really.'

Norma Kelly

Horse and Jockey Northwood

Shropshire

'We're chasing our premises licence. My husband and I have our personal licence and Pyramid said when our premises licence arrives they will deliver it personally. We applied for 1am at the weekend and midnight in the week with a clause to say people couldn't be in our outside drinking area after 11.20pm.'