Cost of appeals will rise for licensees

The cost for pubs of appealing against any licence condition, or refusal to vary a licence, will rise from £75 to £400 from 1 October.

The original suggestion was that the £400 fee would only apply to appeals against licence refusals. But Minister for Justice Jack Straw has confirmed that it will apply to any appeal to magistrates relating to a pub's licence.

Residents, police and other responsible authorities will only have to pay £75 to appeal after plans were dropped to increase fees for them to £400.

MA legal editor Peter Coulson said: "This is bound to deter ordinary licensees from appealing to the magistrates against what they see as an unfair condition.

"It plays into the hands of those authorities who have already been criticised for being condition-happy - they will be strengthened in their view that the government is on their side and against the licensed trade."

"The size of the increase, too, seems most unreasonable, although it is based on a report that looked at the costs of running the appeal system in the magistrates."

"It is ironic that after protests from certain quarters that the huge fee would deter objectors from appealing, the fee was changed for them, but not for the trade."

British Beer & Pub Association director of pubs and leisure Martin Rawlings said: "This is the latest from the Ministry of In-justice."

"Either they are fining the industry or subsidising public bodies. It's not equitable."

Michael Brightman, lessee of the Patriots Arms in Chiseldon, Wiltshire, said: "Rather than charging the true costs, it seems more like a penalty for appealing."

Straw confirmed the start date and fees in a written statement to the MA. The decision followed a consultation that ended in May.