Licensees pass on 24/7 opening (From Gazette & Herald)

Licensees pass on 24/7 opening

LICENSEES of pubs and bars in Ryedale have passed up the option of round-the-clock opening in favour of closing their doors at 1am.

Landlords decided to apply the closing time across the board at a meeting of the Malton and Norton Licensed Victuallers' Association (LVA).

John Rushworth, owner of The Derwent Arms, Norton, said many licensees did not want to have their businesses open at all hours.

He said: "I'm going to go with the majority, which is to apply for a 1am licence, so I can use it if I want it. Personally I think it's a brilliant thing for Malton and Norton.

"I don't know one licensee, and I've been in the trade for 20 years, who wants 24-hour opening.

"If we all apply for 1am then we can close when we like before then and that's going to relieve the streets of rowdiness and hooliganism, which Norton and Malton are notorious for."

Meanwhile, in York, licensees are expected to opt for staggered closing times, but leaders stressed that no decisions have yet been made.

Alan Rowley, secretary of the York LVA, said: "Every individual licensee will have to apply to the council and outline the hours that they're going to open and close.

"They will still have to have a terminal hour. They won't just be able to close whenever they like."

The Licensing Act 2003 transfers responsibility for pub hours from magistrates to councils. From November, pubs will be allowed to stay open after 11pm if the police and council allow them.

Applications for licences under the new Act can be made from February 7 and must be in place by August 5.

PC John Tugwell, licensing and crime prevention officer, based at Malton Police Station, said he expected applications from about 350 licensed premises in Ryedale, from pubs to caravan parks.

"I think initially it's going to be very complicated while it settles down. In the future we don't know. There are aspects of the Licensing Act which cause me some great concerns and reservations. There are other aspects which are quite good. I think if this was school coursework the Government would be told "could do better" by the teacher," said PC Tugwell.

Licensees face a pile of paperwork as they have to fill out applications for themselves and the venue, and because the Act now covers the Miscellaneous Provisions Act, which deals with events like shows and adult entertainment.

Fast food restaurants and take-aways that sell hot food after 11pm will also have to apply for a licence.

Updated: 09:43 Thursday, January 27, 2005