Businesses have been warned by leading law firm Wright Hassall that they are approaching ‘last orders’ to make sure they comply with the Licensing Act 2003.
Law firm Wright Hassall is bracing itself for a flood of enquiries as the licensing law changes this summer.
The 200-strong firm has brought in Andrew Potts, licensing law specialist from Hammonds of Birmingham, to help handle the confusion over the new laws and the conversion of existing licences.
Andrew will join forces at the firm, in Leamington, with Ian Besant, and the pair between them will form the Midlands' strongest licensing law team with over 50 years’ experience.
He added: “Between the two of us, nobody in the area packs more punch when it comes to dealing and advising on licensing applications.”
Andrew has extensive licensing expertise spread over many years, handling food, beverage and entertainment licences, as well as Betting and Gaming Law expertise.
All licence holders in the area must apply for the new-style licence to their local authority.
And they have just over three months to submit their application, either for a Personal Licence or a Premises Licence, ahead of the August 6 deadline.
The new Licences have caused controversy because licensees could potentially apply to sell around the clock.
Andrew added: “Businesses could find themselves operating on the wrong side of the law if they don’t get their applications granted on time.
“If they miss the deadline of August 6 then they could lose their Licence by November. People have got to get down to it and apply for the conversions of their existing Licences.
“The application form is a fairly weighty document and is certainly not an easy one to fill in – it’s all very bureaucratic.
“The changes were supposed to make things easier and more straightforward but they clearly have not done that, and conversion will be a costly exercise with initial and annual fees payable to the local authority. In many cases people will have to produce new plans of their premises to comply with the statutory requirements, yet another add-on cost!”
Caption: Wright Hassall’s licensing experts Ian Besant, left, and Andrew Potts.
