Punch drops legal bid against Leeds Council

Punch Taverns has dropped its plans to ask for a judicial review against Leeds City Council.​ Punch claimed that the conditions placed on four of its pubs in the city, which included the fitting of a fire alarm in one premises and a requirement to carry out safety checks at another, were unlawful under the Licensing Act.

After the pub company lost its appeal on September 7 2005 three judges ruled that the conditions on the licence were not "unnecessary or disproportionate" (The Publican, September 19).

Punch had been pressing for a judicial review of the case in London's High Court, but last week pulled out, saying it was "better to try and work with Leeds Licensing Authority outside of the courts".

A spokesman from Punch Taverns said: "We are happy that we no longer have to progress the judicial review proceedings. The licensing authority has reworded the conditions in a way that answers our main concerns.

"The fact that we and the licensing authority were able to reach agreement illustrates the shared commitment to ensuring that all our pubs trade responsibly and provide a safe, secure environment for their customers."

But Punch denied a claim from Leeds City Council that it was simply accepting a rewording that had been originally put forward at the magistrates hearing last year.

"The rewording was not put forward to Punch at the magistrates hearing."

"We were waiting to see what the actual licences issued by Leeds said. From there, we were able to agree a rewording of the conditions."

Leeds City Council has claimed victory in the case.

"We have agreed to reword the phrasing in the licence about who was responsible for carrying out safety checks," said a spokesman.

"We originally suggested this back at the original magistrates hearing in November but Punch rejected this."

The spokesman claimed Punch had contacted the council shortly before the High Court hearing to see if it was still prepared to reword the conditions.

"We are very pleased that Punch Taverns has now accepted the rewording, and that they have agreed to pay the legal costs we incurred in preparing for the aborted judicial review," he added.

Pictured: Leeds City Council​