Overview

• The review invites landlords, customers and communities to submit views on modernising rules that currently hinder live music, outdoor trading and flexible opening in England and Wales.
• Options under consideration include scrapping hard-copy newspaper advertising for licence changes, raising Temporary Event Notice limits to about 25 covering 30 days, and simplifying pavement and outdoor service rules.
• The Licensing Taskforce also proposed adding “promoting economic growth” as a new objective in licensing decisions, prompting warnings about reduced local control over hours and venues.
• Trade bodies such as UK Hospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association, along with Greene King’s chief executive, praised the drive to cut red tape, while health charities labelled it a “charter for chaos” that could increase alcohol-related harm.
• Independent landlords argue later opening would not fix the sector’s cost pressures and urge action on business rates, VAT and employer NI, with officials stressing no legal changes have been made before the consultation concludes.