Licensees are within their rights to keep deposits for Christmas parties cancelled by customers because of the weather.
That piece of advice comes from Morning Advertiser legal expert Peter Coulson as pubs count the cost of yet more snow and freezing conditions.
Peter Reid of the Wyke Down pub in Andover, Hampshire had a party of 73 cancel because most guests could not get to the pub because of the weather.
He collected a £10 a head deposit for the booking.
"I understand the weather stopped them getting here but I still had to order the food," he said. "There must be many pubs in the same situation right now."
Coulson said pubs are within their rights to keep a deposit if customers cancelled bookings because of the weather. "You can't use the weather as an excuse," he said.
"The contract still exists. If they don't turn up, then they forfeit the deposit. It is not the pub's fault it is snowing. The buyer has to beware."
However, Reid has come up with a novel solution. "I am phoning all those who have booked offering them the chance to move the booking till January.
"That way they don't lose their deposit, we don't lose out on trade and it helps us in a quiet January."
He added: "It also covers your back for if your staff can't get in for parties that are on."