JDW - Newcastle LNL 'success'

Readers may recall the Wetherspoon ‘wheeze' where they apply to add a condition to their licence for premises which would otherwise be affected and caught by a Late Night Levy.

The condition applied for removes the authorisation to sell alcohol during the period when any late night levy is in force affecting the premises and which would therefore would allow the automatic resumption of use of those hours if the levy fell away thereby avoiding an application to reinstate their hours if the Levy is withdrawn at a later date (and thereby avoiding the possibility of having to confront a Cumulative Impact Policy at that stage).

This has proved a successful strategy in a number of areas, but went to a hearing in the face of police objections in Nottingham but the Licensing committee granted the variation.

Most recently however in Newcastle, the committee refused the variation in the face of police objections.  JDW appealed and at a hearing last week, the appeal in respect of their premises was granted, allowing the conditional variation to go through.  JDW will have to go 56 days’ notice of reinstatement of the original hours at such time as they wish to extend their hours.

On a separate note a reminder that there is currently a consultation running for a proposed Levy in Camden which if adopted will affect all premises licensed to sell alcohol between midnight and 6.00am. The consultation closes on 6 May 2015. See our article from 17th February 'Camden Council launches late night levy consultation'.