Pub granted reprieve after licensee death
A relieved pub couple that were facing a ban on selling alcohol after the sudden death of the pub's licence-holder have been granted a last-minute reprieve.
Alec Matthews and his partner Susan Lethbridge feared their business was about to collapse after missing the seven-day deadline to change the premises licence details.
West Devon Borough Council initially slapped a 28-day ban on the Prewley Moor Arms, in Okehampton, selling alcohol - but has since backed down citing "exceptional circumstances".
Alec said: "I'm glad the council has used common sense. Having to close for 28 days would have absolutely ruined us.
"We're hosting an engagement party so luckily that can still go ahead."
He expressed his gratitude to The Publican for getting involved in the case, adding: "It's another pub saved".
Alec and Susan run the pub for a private owner, whose name was on the premises licence. The couple told the council of the licence-holder's death just days after the event - but then heard nothing until after the seven-day deadline had elapsed.
A spokeswoman for West Devon Borough Council said: "Ms Lethbridge was given the advice and help needed to complete the necessary paperwork to make the required change to the existing premises licence. This will allow the pub to continue to operate."
The case mirrors that of the Hyland family at the Dyffryn Arms, in Neath, South Wales. Last year they were hit with an alcohol sales ban following the death of their father - the pub's licence-holder. The ban stood for 28 days, but the pub managed to survive and keep trading.
Under the current licensing regime, if a pub's premises licence-holder dies there is a seven-day deadline for the licence details to be switched into another's person name.
Last November licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe told MPs the government was planning to extend the deadline that a licence can be transferred - but the situation has still not changed.
And a Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman told The Publican there was still "no timetable" on altering the law.
But he added: "We want to improve matters for licensee families who find themselves in this situation and the issue is on the agenda."
THE PUBLICAN SAYS:
How difficult can it be for the government? All that needs to happen in this case is for one line to be altered in the guidance, to extend the deadline for a name switch on a licence.
Seven days is clearly nowhere near enough time for a grieving family to organise and submit a change to their licence.
After the death of a loved one this will not be top of the agenda - and there still remains a general lack of awareness of this rule. It's now nearly a year since our front-page story about a South Wales pub being banned from selling alcohol after falling foul of this law. And it's four months since licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe promised action. So come on Gerry, can we have some action on this? It's not much to ask.
