Industry welcomes amended licensing regulations

Hospitality has welcomed amended licensing regulations in England and Wales.

The new regulations allow businesses to apply for 20 temporary event notices for 2022 and 2023, up from 15, and extend automatic off-licence flexibility until the end of September 2022.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: "These amended regulations are positive news for businesses that have been hard hit over the course of the pandemic. UKHospitality has pushed hard for these extensions so we are grateful that the Home Office has listened and acted. All and any support for the sector will be vital on the long road to recovery and these measures mean businesses can continue to be flexible with how they operate and utilise additional opportunities of generating valuable revenue.

"Temporary event notices are particularly helpful for venues that want to hold one-off events or celebrations, so boosting the number permitted over the next two years is very welcome and increases the number of money-making opportunities.

"We'd urge the government to go further and also reduce the strict licensing conditions on door supervisors given the sector is facing such an acute labour shortage. We'd also like to see new applications fast-tracked and plans for new requirements from October suspended that risk leaving many vacancies unfilled."

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