Specialist licensing solicitors Poppleston Allen's latest legal Q&A addresses the impact of the Government’s relaxed off-trade restrictions on food and alcohol licensing conditions.
I write this article as Monday 17 May approaches, the light in the tunnel becomes brighter, and the journey towards ‘normality’, pot of gold of staycationers with savings and pub envy, a long, hot summer and the Euros await.
Pubs will be allowed to install marquees in beer gardens for the entire summer instead of 28 days currently allowed, without the requirement for planning permission, the Government announced over the weekend (Saturday 20 March), including venues that...
Re-opening may be some time off, however, now is the perfect time to think about preparing some refresher training for all your staff to undertake on their return behind the bar to get ahead of the game and reduce any threat of enforcement.
James Anderson from specialist licensing solicitors Poppleston Allen discusses what role pubs could play on post-lockdown high streets and where opportunities exist for operators once restrictions are lifted.
During 2020 a number of licensing authorities found themselves facing their five-yearly statutory duty to review their licensing policy, and consequently any associated Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP).
In previous years it has been customary for our first article of the new year to look forward to the year come, and make observations about possible legal changes for the hospitality industry in the coming months.
The Government has said pubs should not try to “repurpose” themselves so they can sell alcohol to customers on-site while supermarkets face no additional rules.
There has recently been much discussion - some serious and some tongue in cheek - about the merits of eating a scotch egg as a midday or main evening table meal, and if one Scotch egg isn’t enough to constitute it being the main meal would two suffice?...
The old proverb that "necessity is the mother of invention" has been ringing in pub operators’ ears throughout the Covid-19 pandemic even if their tills haven’t quite been ringing at the same frequency.
The latest legal Q&A from Poppleston Allen sees the specialist licensing solicitors field questions on paying the late-night levy, collecting customer payments and gaming machines.
There are calls from local government leaders across the country to end the 10pm hospitality curfew because it is causing more problems than it is supposed to solve.
Greater Manchester’s night-time economy adviser, Sacha Lord, has called on the Prime Minister to stop celebrating the return to work while almost 60% of night-time operators face closure without further backing.
The pub sector has welcomed the passage of the Business and Planning Bill, which has introduced measures to make it easier for businesses to use outside spaces.
Pubs can only exercise a limited degree of control over the social distancing of individuals on or near their premises, a licensing solicitor has explained.
The Government has announced that pubs cannot reopen when the clock strikes midnight on Saturday 4 July and must instead wait until 6am at the earliest.
The Government has introduced simpler licensing processes for outdoor seating for pubs in a bid to make it easier for people to safely eat and drink outside and in turn, help operators bounce back from the coronavirus lockdown amid reopening.
Heath Ball, operator of the Red Lion & Sun in Highgate, north London, is delivering drinks to customers in a local park in a bid to reach more people and become ‘London’s largest beer garden’.
There is not a publican alive who is not praying to all that is holy for a 4 July reopening – and doesn’t the date have a special resonance, with an aroma of liberty, courage and festivity?
In the latest Legal Q&A from specialist licensing solicitors Poppleston Allen, we take a closer look at licence and permit renewal as well as the potential drawbacks of a company voluntary arrangement.
Over recent years, the trade has stepped up a gear to entice school leavers into its workforce. Competition is hot but just how compatible is the current legislation in terms of being able to compete?
At the time of writing (1 June), we are still awaiting both relaxation of the lockdown regulations and guidance for the hospitality sector from the Government on reopening and, until then, we are all still flailing around in the darkness.
The founder of Piano Works has proposed that the UK’s hospitality sector could safely reopen if pubs, bars and restaurants are allowed to serve customers seated on streets and squares after lockdown.
Pubs will face a “a new beginning entirely” when reopening after the coronavirus lockdown, which will require changes in licensing legislation and the experience pubs offer, according to a paper from the Institute of Licensing (IoL).
The latest legal Q&A from specialist licensing solicitors Poppleston Allen covers the rules around late-night refreshments and refurbishment proposals during Covid-19 lockdown.
Since the Government announced we should avoid non-essential contact and, in particular, confined spaces such as pubs and restaurants, our world of hospitality has changed beyond all recognition.
Councils across the country are considering issuing rebates or discounts on late-night levy payments next year but are still unable to refund or reduce current payments.
The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has published new guidance to help authorities carry out their legal obligations during the ongoing Covid-19 emergency period.
It is real. We knew it was coming, but many, including myself, did not foresee the devastation to our health, our lifestyle and the economy that coronavirus would bring to the UK.
Pubs have been warned that it is illegal to host lock-ins under the Government’s social distancing measures and they could risk their licence being revoked.
UK music licensing company PPL PRS has said it will not charge customers for their music usage during their closure period and will adapt its payment policies.
Now pubs have been ordered to close, some sites have opted for a takeaway service for social distancing and self-isolating customers who still crave pub grub.
Teetotal Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak paid critical attention to the pub trade in the release of his 2020 Budget today (11 March), as the sector braces itself for a hammering by coronavirus.
A premises licence is a precious asset – lose it and not only will you lose precious trade in the intervening period but you have no guarantee that an application for a new licence will be granted with the same hours and conditions.
