Latest News
Gambling - Primary Authority - Inspection plans for gambling are now live
Following on from our news article last year ('Primary Authority') when we reported that the Primary Authority Scheme had been extended to cover under age sales. We can now confirm that the first inspection plans for Gambling are in operation in M...
Food Safety - Pub Operator fined £1.5million for food poisoning death
Mitchells & Butlers has been found guilty of placing unsafe food on the market following the death of Della Callagher, 46, who died of food poisoning two days after eating a four-course Christmas meal at the Railway Hotel, Hornchurch in Decemb...
Super Strength and Competition Law - The Latest
We periodically hear of council led initiatives for licensees not to sell so called "super strength" alcohol. In practice this tends to relate to off licences and to mean beers or similar with an ABV over 5% or thereabouts. Additionally, local pre...
British Summer Time starts 29 Mar 2015 - early warning
An early reminder that British Summer Time (or Daylight Saving Time as it now appears to be called - perhaps a commentary on our weather!) starts at 1.00am Sunday 29 March 2015 when 1.00am immediately becomes 2.00am. You are at possible risk of lo...
Retail of Alcohol Standards Group - published guidance
The Retail of Alcohol Standards Group recently published its guidance on the responsible retailing of alcohol in England and Wales. By way of background, RASG developed the Challenge 25 age verification scheme and created Community Alcohol Partne...
'Hemmings' Case - Supreme Court Judgment awaited
On Tuesday (13th January 2015) the Supreme Court heard Westminster City Council's appeal in the matter of R (on the application of Hemming (t/a Simply Pleasure Ltd) and others) v Westminster City Council. Lord Neuberger and his colleagues Lord Ma...
Planning - New Houses Near Old Pubs
With the redevelopment of brownfield sites to residential accommodation, there is an increasing trend for new residential accommodation to be built near to established pubs and bars. This particularly arises where there is regeneration of city an...
Scotland - 'Record fine in Sky case'
We have repeatedly reported on the ongoing crack down on the ‘illegal’ broadcasting of live football by Sky. See our article "'Unauthorised' Premier League broadcasts - be aware". A Glasgow bar is being widely reported as having...