Doncaster licensee to quit trade due to 'cancerous' red tape

Ryan Morling, who owns Rhino Pubs - eight venues in and around Doncaster - said he is renting out the properties and is looking into selling the sites due to the increase in red tape targeting the licensing trade, including the late-night levy.

'Soft target'​

He said that pubs are a “soft target” for local councils and it is “really frustrating” that supermarkets and off licences, which sell more alcohol than pubs and clubs and pay roughly the same amount of tax, are not targeted to help tackle alcohol-related disorder.

“Late-night levy proposals are spreading like cancer throughout the UK, but town-centre pubs can no longer be solely blamed for anti-social behaviour,” he said. “I can’t be doing with being blamed for something we’re not the biggest contributor to and, if local councils and the Government can’t man up and take on the problem, it’s not for me I’m afraid.

“Pubs wish they had all the money for causing that problem but the fact is people come into pubs at 11pm absolutely hammered on pre-loaded cheap booze and drugs, get arrested for being drunk and disorderly, the town centre becomes a warzone, and then we get some big wigs introducing flawed policies that target pubs.”

Supermarket irresponsibility​

He added that supermarkets and shops are “not promoting the licensing objectives” and should pay “their fair share” to combat the problem of irresponsible drinking.

He is campaigning against the possible introduction of a late night levy in York, which he says is “totally unjustified”.

“York is a civilised night out but because the government has let a back door option for the council to tax, all the heat is taken away from the government and it can’t be fought on a national level.

“York pubs and door men already do an excellent job. This is just a money grab and I urge every pub and club in York to unite against it. The fight back must start here.”