Licensing Update : 60 days to convert!

A Hand Morgan & Owen Fact Sheet

Update June 2005

At the time of writing this we are almost two thirds of the way through the six month period allowed for licence holders to convert their existing licences under the Licensing Act 2003. Mark Street Principal Environmental Health Officer who manages the Licensing Team at Stafford Borough Council says as follows:

“I cannot emphasize this point enough – all Justices’ licences, all Entertainment licences, theatre licences, cinema licences and late refreshment licences will not be valid after the second appointed date (likely to be in November 2005) no matter what it says on the licence”

In order to convert your licences you have to make application before 6 August 2005. If you fail to do so you will then have to apply for new premises licences, and in the case of alcohol personal licences also, which will have to be lodged and granted prior to the 7 November 2005. The making of fresh applications will be more complicated and more costly and there is no guarantee that applications will be granted prior to November 2005. If that is the case those who have delayed will not have authority to trade and may be guilty of criminal offences if they do so.

A commentator has suggested that “Application forms are lying in pubs, clubs, restaurants and shops up and down the country, opened rarely further than the first few pages because by that stage the would be applicant has lost the will to live!”

I cannot over-emphasize how important it is that holders of licences, including Justices’ Licences and Club Certificates, act now. If you feel daunted consulting a licensing solicitor now is the answer but any further delay may be fatal since with the best will in the world there is a limit to the number of applications which can physically be processed in the time left available.

If you would like to know how we can help contact Nigel Pepper on 01785 211411.

Nigel Pepper is a partner of Hand Morgan & Owen who has been in involved in licensing work throughout Staffordshire for over 25 years.

Published on web site - June 2005

The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice. The law may have changed since this article was published. Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.