Pub and bar owners in Leicester city centre have called the government’s proposed extension of opening hours a “gimmick”. The Labour Party said the new plan would help pubs to “thrive”.
The government says its raft of changes for the pub trade will create a “modern, proportionate, and enabling system that supports economic growth, revitalises high streets and fosters vibrant communities”. The plans could make it easier for venues to serve food outside and host more live music, in a bid to “remove unnecessary barriers” and potentially remove conditions that were imposed at the time of licensing a premises.
The owner of the Queen of Bradgate, Matt Saunders, said: “It’s a bit of a gimmick. I mean the majority of the city centre will not be affected as pubs are already open till the time that they get business. Opening later does not mean that more business will be there.”
The 58-year-old went on to say the changes proposed by the government are not inclusive of all venues. He said: “To see if a venue will benefit from the changes is completely up to its demand. If a pub is full at the current closing time then yes it would benefit by being able to stay open later, but for those that aren’t, it’s useless.”
Matt went on to list changes the government should make if it really wants to help pubs and bars, such as increasing the relief on business rates again and decreasing VAT and national insurance. He said: “It’s well documented that the biggest gripes about the trade are business rates and VAT on food.
“We’re taxed everywhere we look. Business rates relief being reduced hit us really hard and then the increase in national insurance for employers set us back too. It’s a vicious environment that we are trying to survive in. There are more pubs going dangerously close to becoming unprofitable than there were last year and it’s all because of government policies.”
He added that noise complaints from neighbours could arise with extended opening hours. Matt said: “We also have to consider that you have to co-exist with your neighbours and if you have people living next to your pub, then opening later might just lead to complaints, which then creates unnecessary issues. You could even end up losing your licence like that, showing that these new changes do not benefit everyone.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said “pubs and bars are the beating heart of our communities”, and added that the Government was “backing them to thrive”.
Responding to this statement, Matt said: “The first part is correct but not the second bit. You cannot say that you are pro-pubs and pro-growth and then reduce business rates relief and stick the burden of extra national insurance. I don’t think there is a pub owner in the country who believes the current party is pro-pubs. You put an extra 60 grand in costs and then say you’re pro-business – that doesn’t add up.”
Steven Hoskin, manager of The Ale Wagon, in the city centre, said most of his customers leave the venue early to catch the last bus. He said: “We won’t increase our hours anyway. Most people are gone by 11pm. Customers tend to get the last bus back, so the extension is not beneficial to us at all.”
The call for evidence focused on nine key recommendations from the government’s licensing taskforce, with particular emphasis on “streamlining on-trade alcohol licensing” for hospitality venues. It said it plans to cut the cost of licensing, extend business rates relief and cut alcohol duty on draught pints.
A proposal to remove the local newspaper advertising requirement for a manager wanting to set up premises or alter their licence was among the taskforce’s other recommendations, a move which Leicestershire Live and the Leicester Mercury, along with other industry voices, stand opposed to.
The call for evidence licensing review is open to anyone to comment on the government’s website, including landlords, other statutory bodies and also residents’ advocacy groups, local news publishers and members of the public. Responses should be submitted by midday on Thursday, November 6.
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