Pubs which chose not to alter their hours under the new licensing regime may have to close at 10.30pm on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Licensees who applied for a straight conversion of their licence may be restricted by grandfather rights that state pubs must close according to the old Sunday hours on Good Friday.
Morning Advertiser legal expert Peter Coulson said: "The situation is that existing permitted hours are carried forward. If a licensee has made a straight conversion and hasn't specified a difference for Good Friday, they may have to close early."
Coulson added that this rule may be an anomaly that slipped through the net.
"There were similar circumstances on New Year's Eve but the lack of enforcement by local authorities seemed to be universal," he said.
Coulson has also seen inquiries from confused licensees about conditions relating to Maundy Thursday and Easter Saturday: "Some licensees still have conditions that state they must close at midnight on both occasions so that hours do not run over into Good Friday or Easter Sunday. This rule has been changed and licensees no longer have to abide by it."
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Your CommentsRobert Feal-Martinez via email 13/04/2006"Isn't it sad that what was flagged up by HMG, and the trade bodies as the 'biggest deregulation' of the industry ever has now turned into the biggest disaster ever, with not a week going by without some, LA or other, or some police force abusing the rules. Given that 30% of pubs still do not have their Premises Licences many will have no idea if they are breaking the law or not."
Peter Eveleigh via email 18/04/2006"Grand-father rights etc.
Another example of the horlicks made by the introduction of the LA2003 relates to the admission of children.
Again, licensees who opted for these without removing the embedded restrictions (and didn't have a Children's Certificate) could be breaking the Law if any children under the age of 14 enter their premises - even accompanied by adults. Bang goes the family meal at your friendly local pub!"
Richard Sanders via email 18/04/2006"Once again the weather has let us down,but overall its been busy."