‘Welcome dose of common sense’ – takeaway pints here to stay
August 14, 2023
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We have long called for measures to make it easier for venues to sell takeaway pints, introduced during the pandemic, to be made permanent. Such a move would benefit the economy and businesses, as well as local communities.
The Prime Minister’s personal intervention has been widely welcomed and is evidence of the Government’s commitment to deregulation. It represents a reversal of the initial decision, which was met with widespread disappointment by the sector.
Our response
Our Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “This is a very welcome intervention by the Prime Minister in response to representations from UKHospitality and the sector more widely.
“Many businesses benefitted for the first time from pavement licences and created new outdoor areas but, for some, the use of them was only allowed by a corresponding temporary permission for takeaway sales or al fresco dining.
“The government was originally proposing to extend the former but not the latter and this would have tied up many more restaurants, bars and pubs in red tape; requiring an application for some to continue using their outside spaces.
“This is a welcome dose of common sense. As the Prime Minister rightly says, now is not the time to tie these businesses up in additional bureaucracy and cost just as they continue their recovery from the pandemic. We very much appreciate his personal intervention and ongoing support.”
