Pubs and restaurants across the region
are being advised to still prepare for the forthcoming
licence application deadlines, despite current legal challenges
to the legislation.
Wolverhampton based business advisers
and accountants AGS have reported that a number of its
clients in the sector have approached them with concerns
and questions regarding the deadlines.
Last week the pub trade won a landmark
case after a high court judge ruled that Canterbury City
Council was asking too much of its landlords. This could
now have implications for pubs across Britain. However
the August 6 deadline for the application of new style
licenses still stands.
Steve Aston, partner at AGS comments:
"The new requirements, which saw councils take licensing
responsibility from magistrates, has caused enough concern
as landlords prepared to fill in new style complicated
forms before the August deadline. Failure to do this will
result in their premises being closed.
"Now the councils who have taken
over responsibility, such as Canterbury, have been trying
to impose new rules which make the system even more complex.
Fortunately this latest attempt has been overruled however
many other councils could be trying to impose their own
rules.
"Despite this confusion the August
6 deadline does still stand and any landlord with questions
are advised to speak to their business advisers immediately
as time really is running out."
For more information on the new style
licensing applications contact AGS on 01902 717175.
