OTS p16-17 Licensing Jun09.qxp 28/05/2009 15:08 Page 16
business building · licensing
Application figures hint at
Scotland losing thousands
of licensed premises
Since transition to the Licensing (Scotland) Act
2005 began in March 2008 each and every
premises in Scotland has had to apply for a
new licence. Since then, and even before it,
the pages of this magazine have detailed
what’s required, and the many problems
facing licensees regarding entering the new
regime.
Cost has been the primary concern, and
last month the Scottish Beer and Pub
Association (SBPA) published details of the
numbers of premises licence applications
lodged. The Association’s findings indicate that
roughly one in five, or 3,100 expected
applications were not lodged.
Opposite, we take a closer look at the
figures, which were compiled on behalf of the
SBPA by AH Strategies using Freedom of
Information legislation, and see which
The application figures indicate fewer pubs will
licensing boards had the highest and lowest be selling pints after 1 September.
returns.
Patrick Browne, SBPA chief executive says: restricted hotel licence, Sheila was able to too high.”
“These figures reinforce the trend from figures offer guests beer, wine and spirits when they Of course, guest houses and other such
we produced in January that a high proportion ate meals. establishments are crucial to the tourist trade
– one in five – of Scotland’s licensed However, she decided not to enter the new in Scotland and with them not able to sell
premises so far have failed to lodge new licensing regime, a decision she says was not alcohol it could put off many visitors, and as
Premises Licence applications. We believe that an easy one, and one of which the Patrick Browne explains, anyone who thinks
is because the cost and complexity of the new ramifications will not be known until next year. it’s only gift shops selling whisky miniatures
Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 has “I read a lot about it and it seems that it was a that are not applying, should think again. “The
discouraged them from doing so, and lot of cost and a lot of hassle,” says Sheila. “I information from Licensing Boards also makes
because a large number of premises have therefore took the decision to not sell alcohol it clear that the premises not applying for new
already ceased trading. Whilst premises which anymore. I can’t stand the bureaucracy that licences aren’t simply smaller retailers or gift
have so far not submitted new licence goes with the whole thing. When the licence shops. There are a wide range of types of
applications can still do so, they will be joining was around £70 a year it was fine, but it’s just premises, including pubs and hotels, that
a backlog of thousands of other applications.” not worth it now. I run a small business on haven’t lodged new premises licence
It remains to be seen just how many of the my own and I feel like I’m being persecuted.” applications. It is only on 1 September when
premises who missed their tranche deadline, Sheila, who like many tourist-driven the new licensing regime comes into effect
will apply late, but inevitably there will be a businesses, is finding 2009 a difficult year that we will be able to fully assess how many
number of premises who have simply chosen thanks to the recession is hoping the changes of Scotland’s licensed premises have actually
to withdraw from selling alcohol. to her business model won’t affect business made the transition to the new regime.”
One such premises is Greenlawns, a guest too much. “Guests like the idea of having a The likelihood is that when 1 September
house in Nairn owned and operated by Sheila dram after their dinner at the end of a day’s comes round and all licences are processed,
Southwell. Previously operating under a sightseeing. We might not turn over thousands we will discover all manner of premises have
of pounds a month not applied for a new licence in all areas of
“Guests like the idea of having a dram after
on drink sales but it the country; whether they be pub, guest
their dinner at the end of a day’s sightseeing.
was something else house, B&B or off-licence, they will have done
It was something else we could offer. We can’t
we could offer. We their sums and came to the sorry conclusion
do that now. The costs are simply too high.”
can’t do that now. that the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 is
The costs are simply simply too expensive a regime to enter.
· 16 · ots · june 2009 · www.55north.com
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