MA backed advice line for L&E pubs
The Morning Advertiser has joined forces with a firm of licensing experts to set up a London & Edinburgh hotline which tenants can ring for help.
Lawyers John Gaunt & Partners of Sheffield are offering advice to licensees via a 24-hour telephone number.
Partner John Gaunt said licensees had been "hung out to dry" with little advice offered to help them sort out the mess.
"Most do not know what is happening - we ourselves are also battling to get proper information out of the administrators," he said.
Whether tenants require clarification of their current status, a transfer application to be lodged or just general advice, our team of specialist lawyers is ready to answer calls Lawyers John Gaunt & Partners.
"Unfortunately we are also dealing with a very technical aspect of the licensing law.
"It's a nightmare for everyone."
It is understood that Ernst & Young has transferred the London & Edinburgh premises licence into a new separate holding company which is not in administration.
But it has asked tenants to notify their head landlord that they wish the licence to be transferred or risk their being surrendered.
MA legal editor Peter Coulson said: "Licensees need to act very swiftly to ensure that their pubs can stay open. We are asking Ernst & Young to extend their deadline to give these licensees more time to sort things out."
The John Gaunt 24-hour hotline number is 0114 266 3400.
A spokesman said: "Whether tenants require clarification of their current status, a transfer application to be lodged or just general advice, our team of specialist lawyers is ready to answer calls."
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