2017
December 2017
The House of Lords has published its report on the post-legislative scrutiny of The Licensing Act 2003. The allocation starts again on 1st January. If you don’t use it - you lose it!
Full details...
Planning News
Following the completion of a number of separate revisions, the council now intends to undertake a full review of the entire City Plan.
Full details...
April 2017
The House of Lords has published its report on the post-legislative scrutiny of The Licensing Act 2003.
Full details...
January
Applications, particularly in special policy areas, are getting harder, meaning getting it right at the start is paramount.
Full details...
2016
House of Lords Submission
Thomas & Thomas’ submission to the House of Lords Select Committee on the Licensing Act 2003.
Full details...
June
London’s new Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has prioritised the protection of London’s under-threat pub and nightclub scene.
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March
A slight relaxation of the stress area (or ‘Cumulative Impact Area’) policy in relation to ancillary sales of alcohol prior to 8.00 pm, has coincideed with a subtle but important tightening up of opening hours.
Full details...
2015
December
Following the consultation earlier this year, the City Council will shortly publish their revised policy which will come into effect from 7 January 2016.
Full details...
November
Westminster’s licensing policy provides few exceptions where a licence will be granted in their Stress Areas.
Full details...
August
Westminster Council’s consultation has now ended with a new policy likely to come into effect early next year.
Full details...
Change in Permitted Development Rights for Public Houses
The Government recently announced that it would intervene to protect public houses (Class A4) that are listed as Assets of Community Value (ACV), by removing permitted development rights for changes of use or demolition.
Kieron Hodgson considers the recent changes.
Full details...
April
Westminster have published their long awaited licensing policy consultation document. The deadline for consultation responses is 15 May 2015.
Full details...
February
2015 marks the 10 year anniversary of the introduction of personal licences. For many of you this means your personal licences are due to expire this year.
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2014
November
A restaurant operator has successfully appealed against Westminster’s decision to refuse an application for a bar in their restaurant.
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July
A premises licence can lapse on its surrender or the insolvency of the licence holder. This can be a problem for landlords and tenants alike.
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World Cup Special
Following some hard lobbying by the Beer and Pub Association, the Government have now confirmed an automatic extension to licences for a maximum of four hours beyond England's kick off times.
Full details...
April
Due to the "cumulative impact" of existing premises, Westminster's "stress area" policy creates a presumption to refuse all new licences for pubs and bars in particular.
Full details...
February
With talk of Late Night Levies, Early Morning Restriction Orders and Expedited Reviews affecting the industry, the Home Office has proposed some quite astonishing proposals for deregulation!
Full details...
2013
December
The deadline for applying for Temporary Event Notices (TENs) over the Christmas period is fast approaching.
Full details...
October
Time will soon run out to use up your Temporary Event Notices (TENs) for special events during the festive period.
Full details...
July
The Corporation of London have issued a formal consultation as to whether they should institute a late-night levy.
Full details...
May
From 30 May 2013, any building currently within Class A1-5, B1, D1 or D2 can change, without an application, to a use falling within Class A3 for a single continuous period of up to two years.
Full details...
April
It seems that Westminster Council is unlikely to implement or consult on Early Morning Restriction Orders.
Full details...
March
Proposed changes to the planning system may further enhance the number of pop-ups and reduce the increasing number of empty units in town centres.
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When Is a Shop Not a Shop?
When it's a restaurant, or at least that's what some planning authorities might say.
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Februrary
The national press has reported the 'crack down' by Westminster Council on their burgers - better known in some places as 'Patty-gate'.
Full details...
2012
December
Make sure to check whether your Premises Licence permits the sale of alcohol from the end of usual permitted hours on New Year's Eve to the start of permitted hours on New Year's Day.
Full details...
October
On 1st October, the Live Music Act came into effect, meaning that the provision of facilities for making music and dancing are
no longer licensable activities.
Full details...
August
From October Local Authorities can start consulting on whether to introduce Early Morning Restriction Orders and Late Night Levies.
Full details...
July
With just about a month to go, it is still not too late to apply for a time-limited Premises Licence or probably more likely, Temporary Event Notices.
Full details...
June
The law has recently changed to allow more Temporary Event Notices. If you wish to add additional licensable activities or extend your licensed hours over the summer, please make sure you do so in plenty of time.
Full details...
May
A reminder about our seminar. The event will take place this Wednesday, 2nd May at 6pm at the House of St Barnabas in Soho.
Full details...
Police Reform & Social Responsibility Act 2010: 6 April 2012
The Government plans to bring into force many of the licensing measures contained in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (PRSRA) on 6 April 2012.
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March
It looks increasingly unlikely that the Government will offer any relaxation during the Olympic period. If you wish to add licensable activities or extend your licensed hours over this period, make sure you apply in plenty of time.
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Hyde Park: Press Release
Licensing law firm Thomas and Thomas Partners successfully defended a premises licence review for its client, The Royal Parks - a review which had threatened a series of major annual concerts being held in London's Hyde Park.
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Special Release
Thomas and Thomas were instructed in December 2011 by the Royal Parks to defend an application for review of their Premises Licence for Hyde Park.
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February
Westminster's long-awaited Sexual Entertainment Venue ('SEV') Licensing Policy has finally been published, and existing striptease venues only have until 1st April 2012 to submit their applications for a new SEV Licence.
Read full article
January
With the 2012 programme fast approaching, we have been keeping a close eye to see if there would be any relaxation in licensing hours during the Olympic period.
Read full article
2011
December
A very warm welcome to our inaugural e-newsletter. We've now been up and running in our new Covent Garden office for a couple months, please feel free to pop in and say hello.
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November
As Christmas approaches, we thought we would warm you up with some Christmas cheer. Unfortunately, we couldn't as it's more doom and gloom; this time in the form of the Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence ("SEVL") legislation.
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October
Welcome to the inaugural Thomas & Thomas e-news. In this issue, we are delighted to confirm the opening of our new offices in Covent Garden. Please do pop in!
In the meantime, less good news in the form of the Police and Social Responsibility Act....Read full article << back to current news
