Charnwood Borough Council - Leading in Leicestershire

Council Licensing Officer, Malcolm Burton has warned that, “Significant numbers of local watering holes could be out of action in time for Christmas and New Year, with many licensed premises leaving it to the bitter end to apply for new alcohol licences.”

Under the new law, all licensed premises have to apply to their Council by 6 August, even if they don’t want to vary their opening hours. Those that don’t will find it much more difficult to re-obtain a licence, as past that date they lose the right to unconditionally renew their existing license, known as 'grandfather' rights. Without a valid licence when the new system goes live later in the year, current licensed premises won’t be able to sell alcohol at all.
The changes to the system were enshrined in the Governments Licensing Act and will allow landlords greater flexibility over their opening hours.

The legislation theoretically allows landlords to open 24 hours a day but according to Mr. Burton there have not been any applications for round the clock opening in Charnwood.

“The applications we’ve had so far are to extend opening hours, particularly on Friday nights and at weekends. The legislation also means that many licensed premises will be able to provide entertainment where previously they didn’t… including live televised events.”

Licensees have a duty to publish the details of any application to extend their hours in local newspapers.

Residents can object to an application for extended opening hours but the objection must be about the variation to the licence not about the terms that a landlord already works to.

Mr. Burton explains, “Residents can object to any variation to an existing license. But the objection has to be based something substantial like a history of bad management, fights, disturbance & public nuisance. The legislation does not enable people to simply object on the grounds of what might happen, the Council will need to consider the likely effect of any variation and then decide whether objections can be upheld. However the legislation does give Councils the opportunity to review licenses down the line.”

The Council has published a list of frequently asked questions on its website at www.charnwood.gov.uk. Residents who would like to talk to a Council Officer about the new licensing arrangements should call 01509 634622.