Rochdale night life under threat

Licensing Manager John Fletcher hands over the new licence to Bar 5 Owner Jayne Warcaba

A night out for a meal and a few drinks could be a booze-free affair in Rochdale later this summer, unless those running pubs and restaurants start making applications for their new licences soon. And even a night in with a take-away meal and a few cans from the off-licence could be a problem.

The potential hitch is that the licensing laws changed two months ago, giving those selling food and drink until 6 August to apply for new licences.

However, hardly any applications have been received so far out of the more than 2,000 expected by the deadline. The owner of Bar 5 (above), is one of the first to do so.

People who leave it to the last minute to apply for one of the new licences could find themselves with a problem because Rochdale Council won't be able to process hundreds at a time, which could leave some food and drink establishments with no licence - and some very thirsty and hungry customers.

Mr John Fletcher, the Council's Licensing Manager speaks of his apprehension: "We're concerned that licensees will leave it to the last minute to apply for licences then we'll have a flood of applications in the last few weeks that we won't be able to process in time," said Mr John Fletcher, the Council's Licensing Manager.

"We expect there will be about 850 applications for premises and about 1,500 for personal licences for the people who operate the businesses selling food and alcohol.

"If we get all the applications in the last few weeks before the deadline we simply won't be able to cope.  We'd really like those with licences that need to be renewed and those who need new licences to make their applications as soon as possible so that we can spread out the work over a longer period.

"The new licences are needed to comply with the Licensing Act 2003, which came into force in February.  The new rules mean that all pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants, off-licences, theatres, cinemas and takeaways have until 6 August to apply to the Council to convert their existing licence into one of the new licences.  This applies regardless of when a licence expires and whether or not the licensee wants to vary the opening hours."

John Kay, Senior Partner of Molesworths Bright Clegg, said: "Earlier this year our Licencing Department ran a number of free seminars for businesses affected by the new law. Over 140 people attended. We warned them that even if their present licence from the Licencing Magistrates has months or even years to run they still need to apply as old licences will cease to be valid from 6th November 2005.
 
I will arrange for a more detailed article to be provided within the next few days for both Rochdale Online and other local publications
 
The new procedures are now law, they will be very expensive for the businesses concerned, but unless they comply and submit valid applications by 6th August 2005, then I regret that they will be out of business."

Takeaways and any other premises selling hot food or drinks after 11pm must apply for premises licences for the first time. Although it is almost two months since the legislation came in, the Council has only just issued its first licence, a Personal Licence, and is currently processing just one Premises Licence and one Club Premises Certificate.

A number of other applications have been returned to the applicants because they were not completed properly, or had missing or incomplete documentation. Businesses that do not have a licence when the new licensing regime comes into effect later in the year will face prosecution if they continue to trade.