Welcome to the November 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.

Serving Drunks: Members need to be aware of a new police and Home Office campaign to increase enforcement against outlets – and individual staff – serving drunks. The campaign will include covert surveillance activity and will run from 30 November to 23 December. As the campaign is being run centrally by Chief Inspector Duncan Slade – formerly Westminster’s licensing inspector – and places emphasis on the ‘server training’ project WCC is piloting, we can expect outlets in the West End to be targeted. Read our detailed briefing note to avoid being caught out.

Westminster’s Revised Licensing Policy: since our last newsletter, the WLA has been lobbying hard to prevent radical changes to Westminster’s Statement of Licensing Policy. We have had some degree of success, fending off attempts to impose an evening ban on any children in alcohol-led premises after 9.30pm, preventing the number of licensed premises being taken into account during licence review proceedings as a matter of policy and preventing further restrictive definitions being imposed on restaurant and hotel licences. The policy is still far from ideal and concerns remain, however, this represents a significant success for WLA efforts. We have also written to Audrey Lewis to complain about the handling of the consultation and the limited scope of work with the trade – only the ten largest licence holders were contacted during the consultation. You can read our letter and detailed submission here.

tick Introduction of a points based system for UK immigration: Over the last three years we have seen the Government involved in a number of consultations with key organisations and industry bodies, with the idea of bringing existing immigration policies in line with proposed legislation changes.  These proposed changes will be a complete overhaul of the current immigration system – and will have a particular impact on the hospitality industry in Westminster which employs a large number of foreign nationals. To find out how the proposed changes will impact you, read the attached briefing note  from our UK immigration partner – Visalogic or contact them direct for free advice.

tick MEMBERS EVENTS: The WLA works with a network of suppliers and business support services to bring you a range of free seminars providing information and advice on strategic and operational matters.

  • Our property advisers, Radcliffes LeBrassuer, will be hosting a seminar on practical issues arising from the Disability Discrimination Act on Thursday 27th November from 5.30-8pm. Further information is in the attached invitation
  • The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers has extended an invitation to WLA members to join them at their forthcoming London tax seminar for an update on VAT on gaming machines and Capital Gains Tax. Further information is in the attached invitation
  • Finally, our legal advisers, Jeffrey Green Russell, will be hosting a licensed seminar in February 2008 to provide an update on changes to the licensing regime and Westminster’s licensing policy. Further details in due course, but contact Kate Nicholls to reserve a space in advance.

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