Bevan Brittan - Press Releases

Bevan Brittan Advises On New Licence Breakthrough

Bevan Brittan has advised a Birmingham bar on what is considered to be one of the first personal and premises licenses to be granted in the UK. The application to 'convert and vary' was approved by Birmingham City Council last week and follows shortly after a radical overhaul of current licensing laws.

Bar One Ten’s licence was approved well in advance of the 6 August deadline and Bevan Brittan licensing partner Sharon McCann commented: “The time for pubs and clubs to submit their applications is fast running out. Whilst the media has focused on the possibility that the new legislation could promote binge drinking, 24 hour opening is only one facet of the new law.”

As of 7 February this year, every licensee in England and Wales has a period of six months in which to apply to convert their existing licences. If this deadline is missed, their existing licences will expire and they will not be able to sell alcohol, provide entertainment or sell late night or early morning refreshment.”

Sharon continued: “Pubs and clubs are not the only premises which will be affected: off-licences, theatres, hotels, restaurants, sports grounds, cinemas and concert venues will all need to update their licences if they are to continue trading as normal.”

The new licensing application process is considered to be particularly complicated and detailed and several establishments have had their applications rejected for being incorrectly prepared.

Sharon continued: “Preparing the application is no easy task, and no doubt this is the reason why many licensees have been putting it off. However, we would strongly advise those in the leisure industry to act now if they don’t want to risk their livelihoods in the future.”

Commenting on the licence granting, Joel Wata, from Bar One Ten, said: “We’re obviously very pleased to have received the go-ahead from the Council. The variation of our licence will extend our trading hours and give us more flexibility in the running of our business, particularly as extensions are being abolished under the new Act."

Jacqui Kennedy, head of licensing at Birmingham City Council, said: "This is the first conversion and variation of licence to be issued in Birmingham and we believe it to be the first grant of a variation nationwide. I welcome the fact that Bar One Ten has submitted their application in such a timely fashion. It is a rather historic event for this venue and for Birmingham."