Pub opening hours legal question

[JABB]

If you have a licensed pub, what is the legal obligation to open?
Could you open say 2 evenings a week to be within the license?

I ask as there are so many empty pubs that seem worthless as they can't be de-licensed. If one was to buy one to live in, it would be against the law, but say you opened it Sat night only, would that satisfy the terms of the license?

[Jobbo]

What do you mean by 'they can't be de-licensed'? The reason they haven't been changed to a different use is not licensing, it's planning.

[NotKenBlock]

Seems an odd thing to do.. you'd have the majority of the cost of running the pub, but only be open 1 night a week to recoup it back..

As above, its planning I think rather than licencing.

[Truckosaurus]

It's not such a daft idea.

A pub's value is based on its business turnover. You could buy a cheap village pub that does little business during the week, work your day job Mon-Fri while living in the pub and only open to the public at weekends as a hobby/community service/etc.

[LordGrover]

Wouldn't work for real beer.

[JABB]

Truckosaurus said:

It's not such a daft idea.

A pub's value is based on its business turnover. You could buy a cheap village pub that does little business during the week, work your day job Mon-Fri while living in the pub and only open to the public at weekends as a hobby/community service/etc.

This is the idea!
The only reason it has not sold is it is still licensed. The council ( be it planning ) won't revoke the license

[21TonyK]

As already said, it's a planning issue, not licensing. A licensed premises is under no obligation to open although if it does it must operate within the stated hours of it's license.

[Melman Giraffe]

21TonyK said:

As already said, it's a planning issue, not licensing. A licensed premises is under no obligation to open although if it does it must operate within the stated hours of it's license.

Also the individual needs to be licensed

[JABB]

So in theory my plan would work? To comply with planning I could open say Friday and Saturday nights only and live in the building full time

[Jobbo]

JABB said:

So in theory my plan would work? To comply with planning I could open say Friday and Saturday nights only and live in the building full time

I suspect the planners would view that as pub use being ancillary to the main use as a residential dwelling, rather than the other way round. In which case it would be a breach and you'd get an enforcement notice.

[Jobbo]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

But are they used as a family home for the rest of the time?

[KrazyIvan]

LordGrover said:

Wouldn't work for real beer.

Well thats you out of the land lords job, me i'd happily work for real beer

ETA, Anyway I always thought the license was to the land lord/lady and not to the building? so simply buying an old pub wouldnt allow you to just move in and start selling beer, you'd have to apply for a new license.

Edited by KrazyIvan on Monday 27th June 13:36

[21TonyK]

KrazyIvan said:

Well thats you out of the land lords job, me i'd happily work for real beer

ETA, Anyway I always thought the license was to the land lord/lady and not to the building? so simply buying an old pub wouldnt allow you to just move in and start selling beer, you'd have to apply for a new license.

Edited by KrazyIvan on Monday 27th June 13:36

It's both now, the premises is licensed for X, Y and Z, ie. alcohol, music, live entertainment etc. These activities can be conducted whilst the premises has a designated premises supervisor (DPS) who must hold a current personal license. Then, in terms of alcohol each sale must be made or authorised by someone holding a personal license as well.

[LordGrover]

KrazyIvan said:

LordGrover said:

Wouldn't work for real beer.

Well thats you out of the land lords job, me i'd happily work for real beer

ETA, Anyway I always thought the license was to the land lord/lady and not to the building? so simply buying an old pub wouldnt allow you to just move in and start selling beer, you'd have to apply for a new license.

I see what you [I] did there.