Welcome to the April newsletter of the Westminster Licensees Association - providing a round up of the latest news, the top issues affecting trade in Westminster and the vital information you need to run your business effectively.

More information on these and other topics is available on our new and improved website www.westminsterlicensees.org We believe that the website provides the most effective source of information on issues affecting the licensed trade in Westminster -  with information on new laws, guidance on compliance, and links to free advice from our specialists, together with WLA submissions and policy statements. It is a one-stop-shop to meet members’ needs.

Licensing Checklist: 18 months into the new licensing regime, and some common problems are coming to light during inspections. Make sure your outlets don’t fall foul by reading our licensing checklist.

And remember, from Good Friday, a new “3 strikes and you’re out” policy applies to under age sales. If you are caught 3 times in 3 months you could be subject to a £10,000 fine or obliged to stop selling alcohol for up to 48 hours.

Gambling: a new gaming regime takes effect from 1 September and will have implications for outlets with AWP machines. A new system of automatic grant will be introduced as an adjunct to the licensing process, with separate permissions only being required if you want to site 3 or more machines. The new legislation will also legalise poker and other small-scale gambling in pubs and bars for the first time. To see what you need to do to comply with the new laws, read our brief.

Planning: Trevor Standen, WLA’s planning adviser, has recently been involved in a landmark case which saw Westminster’s decision to grant planning permission for residential development in a commercial district quashed. The case was brought by a WLA member, Roxy Bar and Eagle Restaurant, which would have found itself directly next to the new development. The operator was concerned that it would open him up to future complaints from neighboursand, more importantly, could be an obstacle at future license hearings with an adverse effect on property value. The Council allowed the development despite the fact that the residential activities would be incompatible with late night licensed operations and other commercial activities and their exposure to noise would be contrary to Government advice. The High Court held this to be unlawful, forcing the developer to look at additional conditions to sound proof the residential units e.g. windows which can’t be opened, relocation of residential use to another part of the development or abandonment of mixed use.

The decision is important and will make Westminster more rigidly assess the noise implications before granting new residential permissions near commercial use. It also means that entertainment operators can comment on and influence decisions to site residential use near to them. For further details contact Trevor on 020 7227 7242.

Events:

18th April :WLA Executive Council meeting. Contact Kate Nicholls if you would like to see a copy of the agenda or minutes

19th April: Westminster City Council is holding a series of seminars on the ban –  click here for details and check out our website for a comprehensive guide

10th May: Westminster and Southwark police have launched Project Griffin, a counter-terrorism training course. Click here to find out more

For further information on these and other issues, check out our website. For advice and guidance contact the secretary, Kate Nicholls (kate@nlcommunications.co.uk) 07958 796 238

Kate Nicholls
23 Beaconsfield Road
London W5 5JE
tel 07958 796 238