Viewpoint: Due diligence in uncertain times
With an increasing number of sites available to ambitious restaurateurs, it's important to keep licensing issues front of mind says Luke Elford
Readers will be familiar with the recent high-profile closures in the restaurant and retail sectors. The likes of Jamie's Italian, Carluccio's and Byron are proof of the real pressures on the high street. Given these issues, it is very likely that more sites will find their way onto the market during the rest of 2018 and beyond.
Licensing is one of the first considerations when assessing a potential site. The first thing to ascertain is whether the site already has a premises licence and what this says. It is also worth looking at the planning permission early on too. Caution needs to be exercised where the previous licence holder has become insolvent. The Licensing Act 2003 has strict rules about what happens to premises licences in the case of insolvency and if things haven't been done correctly, the new occupier could inadvertently buy unlicensed premises with potentially limited prospects of obtaining as generous a licence in the future.
If the site does benefit from a licence, consider whether there are any restrictions that would hamper the proposed use and if there are, what needs changing.
Businesses should also consider the site's location in the context of the local licensing policy. Every licensing authority in England and Wales has one and it governs the decision-making process with regards to new licences and variations to existing permissions. Some authorities have areas where they say the impact of licensed premises is such that they don't intend to grant further licences or certain types of licence. These policies are not absolute, but sites in these areas should be approached with significantly more caution and a preparedness to go all the way to a fully contested hearing, and possibly to the magistrates' court on appeal.
The local licensing policy may also give clues about the types of applications that are welcomed in a certain area. Any businesses embarking on something "different" like the emerging "competitive socialising" market should speak to (at least) the licensing officer, the environmental health officer and the police to discuss the concept and proposals before submitting an application. They are valuable sources of information as to how things work in practice and whether there's anything in particular to look out for.
If a business is already in negotiations, it's important to consider "what if" scenarios like licensing and planning early on and to try to build those into any agreements.
With more sites likely to become available in the coming months, there are certainly rewards out there for those that are prepared to do their homework.
Luke Elford is a solicitor in the licensing team at UK law firm TLT
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