The PAS will offer potential licensees access to a team of experts with a wide range of skills that cover licensing, law and rent through an online service at pubsadvisoryservice.org.uk.
However, there is likely to be confusion as the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) is currently working with the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA) and other trade bodies to offer new licensees access to their Pubs Advisory Service.
The Government agreed a deal with the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) that promised a ‘toughened’ self-regulatory regime including a Pubs Advisory Service in the wake of the Business, Innovation & Skills Committee report.
Team leader of the newly-launched PAS, Chris Wright, said former business minister Ed Davey welcomed the plans in February.
“We considered fully Mr Davey’s suggestion to meet other industry organisations but instead opted for stable partnerships with those who could provide service and advice for the long-term.
“We needed a speedy response and didn’t want to spend all our time working on partnerships.”
Other members of the PAS team include David Queen, a former operations director at Pelican Group; Morgan & Clarke surveyors run by David Morgan and Fair Pint founder Simon Clarke; barristers Sarah Clover and Duncan Craig; and Alex Bak, a solicitor and legal expert in leaseholds.
Peter Thomas, chief executive of the BII, said: “We are aware of a website calling itself the Pubs Advisory Service.
However, this is nothing to do with the BII or the service we are working on with other major industry bodies to set up by the agreed deadline of July this year.”
A spokesman at the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills said: “Although it is not the BII-administered organisation envisaged in the Government’s response, its aims seem to be in keeping with the Government’s desire that licensees should be able to access good-quality advice from a range of sources.”
A BBPA spokesman said: “We agreed to set up an advisory service for licensees, as part of the agreement on self-regulation reached last year.
“We are in discussions with the FLVA and BII over how this service will be provided, but licensees can have access to advice from a range of sources.”