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27
Jun
'No special arrangements' for pubs during World Cup, despite government 'showing the fun police the red card'
A Harrogate publican who wanted to keep his pub open longer during the World Cup is crying foul after being told there would be “no special arrangements”, despite a government announcement encouraging “pavement pints”.
Earlier this month, Communities Secretary Steve Reed called on local councils to approve applications for temporary event licences (TELs) quickly, to allow pubs to open later and hold special World Cup screenings and events in beer gardens.
He added:
Let’s show the fun police the red card, get behind England and back our pubs. This time, it really could be coming home.
Communities Minster Steve Reed MP. Photo: Steven Reed ©House of Commons.
But Jay Smith, who owns Montey’s Bar, on the Ginnel in Harrogate, contacted North Yorkshire Council to ask how any change in the permit regime might work.
Posting on Facebook, he said:
Their response was straightforward: No fast-track process. No special arrangements. The same application criteria. The same 28-day processing period. In other words, nothing has changed.
Now, this isn’t a criticism of North Yorkshire Council. They can only work with the rules and guidance they’re given.
But it does raise an important question. Why are politicians standing in front of cameras announcing support for hospitality, when the businesses they’re supposedly helping can’t actually access any of it?
Jay Smith, owner of Montey's.
The Stray Ferret put this question to the Ministry of Housing, Culture and Local Government on Wednesday, but we have yet to receive any response.
However, North Yorkshire Council did repsond when we asked whether it had signed off more TELs than usual since June 6, and if so, whether it had in fact relaxed any criteria.
A council spokesperson told us:
A total of 31 additional Temporary Event Notices have been identified relating to the World Cup. Many of these cover multiple evenings.
The Government changed the law to permit extensions to licences for certain games involving England and Scotland. These are an automatic right with no need to submit any notification.
Beyond that, the Government has made no provision at all to relax the law or guidance to allow local authorities to process notices differently. The usual rules apply.
A late Temporary Event Notice can be submitted with a minimum of five working days’ notice. If in any doubt, publicans should contact us for advice.
The spokesperson said that eight premises in the Harrogate district had applied for TELs linked to the World Cup, and no applications had been rejected.
These are:
Market Tavern, Knaresborough, requested an extension from midnight to 11pm to midnight on June 17; 11pm to midnight on June 23; midnight to 2am on June 28; 1am to 4am on July 3 and 1am to 5am on July 6.
Prince Of Wales, Harrogate, requested an extension from midnight to 2am on June 28; midnight to 4am on July 3 and 11.30pm to 5am on July 5 and July 6.
The Woodlands Hotel, Harrogate, requested an extension from 10pm to 1am on June 27 and June 28.
The Black Swan, in Ripon, requested an extension from midnight to 4am on July 3 and 1am to 5am on July 6.
The Alexandra, in Harrogate, requested an extension from 11pm to 5am from July 10 to July 16.
The Black Bull, Market Place, Ripon requested an extension from midnight to 4am from July 5 to July 7.
The Mayfair Pub and Kitchen in Harrogate requested an extension from 9am to midnight on June 17.
The Unicorn in Ripon requested an extension from 1am to 3am on July 3.
This article was amended after publication to include North Yorkshire Council's response.
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