Licensing Law

Security staff at London pubs checked as part of Metropolitan Police operation

17-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) found a small number of offences at pubs and clubs across London during the recent Metropolitan Police crackdown Operation Condor.

Legal Q&A: Children in pubs

14-Dec-2012 By Piers Warne

Licensing lawyer Piers Warne from law firm TLT tackles some frequently asked questions about children and pubs.

If in doubt, ask for proof of age

10-Dec-2012 By Poppleston Allen

There has been recent publicity about trading standards officers using “underhand” tactics to entrap members of barstaff into serving volunteers who are under the age of 18.

Licensing crackdown on London venues leads to 297 arrests

10-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

A London-wide crackdown by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on crimes relating to licensing issues resulted in 297 arrests over the weekend.

Shepherd Neame intervenes to prevent EMRO on pubs in Deal

06-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

Proposals for an early morning restriction order (EMRO) to be imposed on pubs in Deal, Kent have been dismissed following a campaign by Shepherd Neame.

Legal Q&A: Machine Games Duty

05-Dec-2012 By Andrew Leggett

Andrew Leggett, deputy director, Alcohol, Tobacco and Gambling at HMRC, answers some frequently asked questions on the new Machine Games Duty.

Luminar to appeal licence revocation at Oceana Kingston

05-Dec-2012

Nightclub company Luminar is to appeal the decision to revoke the licence of Oceana in Kingston following a fatal stabbing inside.

Christmas security advice for pubs and licensed premises

03-Dec-2012 By Steve Williams

Licensees should be vigilant about crime prevention in the lead-up to Christmas. This time of year the number of criminals targeting licensed premises increases but good security does not have to cost a fortune.

Duke of York licensees breathe sigh of relief after licence review hearing

29-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

The overwhelming feeling was one of relief for Alan Monks and Debi Sickelmore, following the conclusion of their licence review hearing at Westminster City Hall last week.

Licensing system weighted against responsible operators

26-Nov-2012 By Poppleston Allen

According to a recent Swiss study, pre-loading increases the risk of a so-called ‘adverse outcome’ at the end of an evening. I don’t know who paid for this research but for once it was not British tax payers.

Duke of York pub wins Westminster council licence review hearing

23-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Westminster City Council insisted it was right to review the licence of the Duke of York in Fitzrovia, despite footing the bill for the review as the pub emerged victorious from the hearing.

Local councils cool their interest in late-night levy

22-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Two local councils have pulled back from plans to introduce a late-night levy (LNL) despite expressing an interest in the controversial measure earlier this year.

Make sure you have the right music licences at your pub

21-Nov-2012 By Poppleston Allen

The Live Music Act 2012 (the Act) took effect on 1 October 2012. So premises having an on-licence can now provide acoustic and amplified live music subject to certain criteria being satisfied. As we approach the festive season, there will be those of...

Licensing committees must stop pushing operators onto the back foot

20-Nov-2012 By Poppleston Allen

I have long been one of life’s optimists — the glass is always half full as opposed to half empty and I firmly believe that my team can always come back from 3-1 down, with 10 men away from home, with five minutes left to play.

Legal tips: Company Christmas parties

14-Nov-2012 By Poppleston Allen

The company Christmas party is a great opportunity to thank staff, boost morale and create a family-like atmosphere. However, allowing staff to overindulge could leave you legally responsible.

Pub poker: licensees should be wary of what constitutes "private gaming"

13-Nov-2012

You may remember an article I wrote on the pitfalls of private poker earlier in the year in which I highlighted the potential dangers of allowing unlimited stakes and prizes in your pub. I was moved to write the piece as I had become aware of a number...

Police and Crime Commissioner elections: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

12-Nov-2012 By Publican Sam

Well this is probably a first, me using my almost long-forgotten schoolboy Latin. So, far from being of no use as I would continually harangue Mr Moore (my Latin master), it has come in handy this week. In essence, and at the risk of being corrected by...

Late-night levy: Lib Dem MP John Thurso raises concerns about how money could be spent

12-Nov-2012

A Lib Dem MP, who is a former Lord, has raised concerns over how the money raised by a late-night levy could be used.

BHA accuses Government of backtracking over hotel bars EMRO exemption

09-Nov-2012 By John Harrington

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has accused the Government of backtracking on plans to exempt hotel bars from being subject to Early Morning Restriction Orders (EMROs).

Late-night levy: "No guarantee that money will be spent where it is raised"

08-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Money raised by local councils through the late-night levy could end up being spent in other council districts, according to the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM).

Innsatiable: Controversial Farnham venue granted premises licence

05-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Simon Atkins, the owner of controversial Surrey 'furniture store' Innsatiable, insisted he was not pressured by local licensing authorities into applying for a premises licence, after one was granted to him.

Home Office publishes latest statistics on premises licences

31-Oct-2012

There were 202,000 premises licences in force in England and Wales on 31 March 2012, according to the latest Home Office statistics on premises licences.

Late-night levy and early morning restriction orders come into force

31-Oct-2012

The regulations allowing the implentation of the late-night levy and early morning restriction orders (EMROs) have come into force today (31 October) which the Government claims will help pay the nation’s estimated £11bn a year bill for alcohol-related...

Licence reviews: Be aware of activity outside your pub

31-Oct-2012

It is hard to escape Boris Johnson at the moment. Following hard on the heels of the great success of the London Olympics, he is currently riding the wave of popular opinion. But for those in the licensed trade, especially in London, that popularity may...

Pubs urged to get legal advice to avoid licence reviews

31-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

Licensees risk seeing their pub’s reputation shattered if they don’t seek expert legal advice following routine licensing visits by police. That is the warning from Jon Wallsgrove, partner at Blake Lapthorn licensing solicitors, who was speaking at the...

Oceana nightclub licence suspended following fatal stabbing

29-Oct-2012

Luminar’s Oceana nightclub in Kingston-Upon-Thames, Surrey, has had its premises licence suspended for 14 days following a fatal stabbing at the venue in the early hours of last Thursday (25 October).

ACPO, Crimestoppers and Facewatch team up to tackle crime

29-Oct-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Crimestoppers and Facewatch, an online crime reporting system, are set to work in partnership with a focus on sharing and improving technology to tackle crime.

Legal tips: Dealing with the police over pub licence transfers

22-Oct-2012

I have encountered several occasions recently where objections have been made by the police over the transfer of a premises licence, and to someone named as the designated premises supervisor (DPS).

Late-night levy: Pubs "ignored" by Government says Best Bar None chairman Philip Kolvin QC

18-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

The Government has “ignored” the wishes of the pub industry by “excluding all best-practice schemes” from applying for a late-night levy reduction.

Westminster Council licence review on Duke of York pub is "warning shot" to licensees

18-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

A licence review by Westminster City Council on a Fitzrovia pub has been branded a “warning shot to operators” by a top licensing lawyer.

Nottingham late-night levy could be introduced without proper consideraton of city's nightlife

17-Oct-2012

I am becoming increasingly concerned about the political influence locally on the late-night economy of city centres. Local authorities have a crucial role to play; they promote and invest, and exercise controls through planning and planning policy, traffic...

Security director fined £9K after being found guilty of SIA licence breaches

12-Oct-2012 By Helen Gilbert

A Derby security director has been ordered to pay more than £9,000 after being found guilty of various security offences.

Premier League in fresh foreign satellite TV football crackdown on pubs

11-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

Pubs are at the centre of a fresh crackdown on foreign football broadcasts, with legal warning letters being sent by representatives of the FA Premier League.

EMROs: Government considers last-minute changes

10-Oct-2012 By John Harrington

The Government is said to be planning last-minute changes to Early Morning Restriction Orders (EMROs) to exclude certain venues from being subjected to the restrictions.

Innsatiable: Pub trade welcomes controversial venue's premises licence application

10-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

Key industry figures have hailed the news that the owner of the controversial ‘free bar’ Innsatiable, in Farnham, Surrey, has applied for a premises licence.

BrewDog case shows how pubs can attain licences or extensions in cumulative impact zones

09-Oct-2012 By Poppleston Allen

Readers may have seen the Publican’s Morning Advertiser news article on 20 September regarding BrewDog in Leeds. BrewDog is a specialist craft brewery that does things differently. Leeds City Council rejected an application to grant them a new premises...

Innsatiable: controversial "free bar" in Surrey applies for premises licence

03-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

The owner of controversial Surrey “furniture shop” Innsatiable “is in the process of applying for a premises licence”, the PMA can exclusively reveal.

Pubs warned about rogue company offering free SIA licence, training and employment

03-Oct-2012

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has urged pubs to be aware of a company claiming to offer free door supervisor training, a free SIA door supervisor licence, and the offer of employment.

Good interview preparation can help licensees avoid heavy punishment for offences at their pub

03-Oct-2012

As alluded to in a previous article, there are numerous examples of situations where someone involved in the licensed trade may end up finding themselves “invited” to an interview under caution.

Early morning restriction order being "actively considered" for Watford pubs and other licensed premises

02-Oct-2012

Police in Watford are “actively considering” pushing for an early morning restriction order (EMRO) from 1am following a 14% rise in violent crime in the town.

Greater Manchester Police closes all pubs and licensed premises in Droylsden over "funeral feud" fears

02-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

Greater Manchester Police have taken the “unprecedented” step of closing all licensed premises in a town for fears of crime and disorder surrounding a funeral.

Nottingham police want late-night levy on city's pubs and clubs

28-Sep-2012 By Adam Pescod

Nottinghamshire Police Authority is keen to see a late-night levy introduced on licensed premises in Nottingham, claiming too many crimes involving alcohol take place in the city during the early hours.

Innsatiable: Pressure increases on "unlicensed bar" in Farnham, Surrey

27-Sep-2012 By Adam Pescod

Pressure is rising on the Home Office to take action over the unlicensed bar in Farnham, Surrey, called Innsatiable.

Legal tips: How to deal with negative press about your pub

26-Sep-2012

I am constantly amazed at the ever-increasing power that consumers have over the reputation of businesses in the hospitality sector. I was reminded of this a few weeks ago when I heard that a restaurateur was suing a blogger for remarks made online.

Live Music Act: Legal Q&A for pubs

24-Sep-2012 By Poppleston Allen

The Live Music Act 2012 (LMA) provides that any amplified live music played on premises that are licensed for the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises is not a licensable activity when the live music is played between the hours of...

The cost of being a door supervisor

19-Sep-2012

In February 2010, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) decided to review the content of the syllabus for the qualification of SIA door personnel.

BrewDog wins groundbreaking licence application case against Leeds City Council

19-Sep-2012 By Gurjit Degun

A district judge has accused a licensing authority of bringing “the iron curtain clanging down” by refusing Scottish bar operator BrewDog permission to open a new site, in a ground-breaking case for the trade.

Crimestoppers offering £1,000 rewards for information on underage alcohol sales in Norfolk

18-Sep-2012 By Adam Pescod

Norfolk Crimestoppers is offering cash rewards of up to £1,000 for information leading to the successful charge of those selling alcohol to young people under 18 and proxy sales of alcohol by adults for young people under 18.

How long can unlicensed Innsatiable last?

13-Sep-2012 By Jonathan Smith

When is the sale of alcohol not the sale of alcohol — when furniture and beer mats are involved?

Why the police should look at the bigger picture when it comes to closure notices

12-Sep-2012 By Jonathan Smith

I was in Skegness recently for a family day out and, for us in the landlocked East Midlands, this is our traditional escape to the coast. A trip to ‘Skeg’ is an institution and it is our Blackpool; no ‘kiss me quick’ hats, but a pier, fish and chips,...