'Boring' checks stifle local pubs

High-profile licensee Paul Clerehugh has voiced his support for the Morning Advertiser's Save Our Local Pubs campaign slamming his local authorities for making the last six years feel like one continuous inspection.

Clerehugh, who runs the Crooked Billet in Stoke Row and the London Street Brasserie in Reading, said he now has to employ a full-time bookkeeper, health and safety consultant and a noise consultant to deal with all the paperwork and comply with legislation. He estimated that 40 man-hours a week are spent dealing with red tape.

"It is frustrating, boring, tedious and a pain in the neck," he said. "The last six years have seemed like one continual inspection. The whole gamut of people that can check you have been to the pub. I have had a wage inspection at the Crooked Billet, wage inspection at my restaurant, VAT at the Crooked Billet, VAT there and it goes on, environmental health, personal income tax inspection, Inland Revenue."

The host believes that licensees are getting a raw deal from councils. "I have to ask whether such stringent checks would be carried out on Wetherspoons. One man bands are an easy target. I have to deal with two councils, South Oxfordshire and Reading and there is no consistency."

The Save Our Local Pubs campaign aims to reduce the red tape and bureaucracy that pubs face. We want to hear your views

Get in touch with us so we can help you. We want to know:

l The role you play in your community

l The challenges you face

l Your ideas on how to solve the problems

Contact Ewan Turney on 01293 610388, ewan.turney@william-reed​.co.uk or via our website.