Managers quitting difficult high street

Pub managers are abandoning the high street because of the demands of heavy-

handed policing and later opening.

That is the view of National Association of Licensed House Managers (NALHM) boss Dave Daly, who said

that in the last three months up to 400 managers of highstreet sites had left the trade or were transferring to community pubs.

Daly said managers were fed up with constant scrutiny from police, such as test-

purchase operations and spot checks to see if drunks were being served.

Up to 11 officers can enter a pub or club at peak time to carry out inspections, said Daly, and managers fear for their personal licences.

The head of NALHM, which has 17,000 members, said managers were also working more hours under the new licensing regime.

"The longer hours and the police activity has really peaked this summer. People are saying they've had enough," said Daly, manager of the Laurel-owned Cahoots bar in Blackpool.

He said people were opting for an easier and better quality way of life. "At the mo-ment what they have to look forward to at the weekend is a multi-agency visit."

Longer hours and police checks

Alan King, manager at Laurel's Merton in Bootle, Merseyside, said the bar opened until 12.30am under the previous

licensing regime but now shuts at 2.30am. "By the time I get cleared up it can be 4am," he said.

"I'm 44 and really tired now. I want to get back in the

community. I want to work at a bar that shuts at 11pm or 12; one that's in the community with quizzes. That's what I miss."

He added: "Police are very strict, especially on underage sales. They walk through here all the time."