The Licensing Guys are delighted to announce that they have become the proud sponsors of the National Pub Watch ‘Bravery and Meritorious Conduct Award’.
This new award is in recognition of individuals, whose actions have either saved life or minimised physical harm in the Night-time economy.
It is open to people who work in the pub and hospitality trade, as well as members of the public or those serving in the emergency services.
 
Paul NEADES from The Licensing Guys said, “This is a great moment for us.  The Licensing Guys have contributed to and supported the excellent work of National Pub Watch for many years, and we are proud to play a small part in recognizing those whose bravery and meritorious conduct goes above and beyond the already high standards clearly evident in the Night Time Economy.”
 
To nominate someone yourselves, please click on the following link: https://www.nationalpubwatch.org.uk/pubwatch-awards/bravery-and-meritorious-conduct-award/bravery-and-meritorious-award-nomination-form/
​

The Licensing Guys were instructed by Global Mini Market in Halifax to apply for a license to enable them to sell alcohol on the 20th April 2020 and we immediately applied for TENS to enable them to sell during the application process and consultation period. The licence was issued on the 20th May 2020. 30 days start to finish. Congratulations Bahram and good luck in your new store.

The Licensing Guys were delighted to have been approached by Gabe Cook otherwise known as The Ciderologist to join and advise the TCCPA Three Counties Cider and Perry Association today on their webinar.
We had some great questions that ranged from the types of licences needed to sell alcohol from a producers premises to planning questions and event notices.
If you missed the chance to join in then give us a call or drop us an email, our advice is always free.
We are proud members of the TCCPA and this was a great chance to help producers across the three counties and those that joined us from further afield.
Watch the Webinar again here ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oJkGulzax4

UPDDATE from Philip Rowberry  at at Thompson’s Accountants​, Hereford
Good Morning 
I hope everyone is well and coping with this continuing lockdown.  Further to Boris speech, while the bones of a plan have been outlined he did emphasise strongly that it is malleable depending on how the pandemic progresses from here.  Still, people who cannot work from home have been encouraged to go back, so long as social distancing can be observed and so we hope that many of our clients and other businesses that have been closed since the lockdown started could begin to restart.  Remember that the furlough scheme was extended until 30th June, so there is no immediate urgency in that regard if you are a business that cannot reopen right away.  Further, the Chancellor is rumoured to be announce an extension of the scheme up to 30th September that will be reducing in its scale as time progresses.  The likelihood is that furlough grants will be reduced to 60%, but include an element of being able to work part time as a way of staging businesses back into full working order.
We expect detailed guidance later today on how businesses can provide safe working environments so I will update you as soon as we have digested this information.
 
Bounce Back Loans
These have been incredibly will received with many of our clients applying and receiving funds last week since they opened on Monday.  If you were not able to apply, or got turned down, please try again this coming week as the banks were carrying out essential maintenance to their systems over the weekend to clear various errors.  To remind you of the various details;

• Apply online with your bank of choice (your own to begin with)
• Borrow up to £50,000 – capped at 25% of your turnover
• 2.5% interest
• No interest, fees, or repayments for the first 12 months (these are being paid for by the Government)

 
These will likely be the best business loans ever available en masse and so it would be sensible to consider applying in order to cover any gaps in your working capital caused by Covid-19.  Also, if you borrow more than you need you will be able to repay within the 12 months without penalty, so plan for the worst but hope for the best.
 
If you need to borrow more than £50,000, then the loan becomes a CBIL.  These come under more scrutiny than the BBL but are still a very attractive loan with many of the same benefits.
 
As always, if you are struggling to get accepted for either a BBL or CBIL, please get in touch as we are able to help.
 
Self-Employed Income Support Scheme
HMRC are now fully engaged with preparing for the SEISS, which will see grants paid to the self-employed of up to £7,500.
 
The payment will be based on your Tax Returns from 2016/17 to 2018/19, with an average monthly amount being worked out and then 3 months paid out at 80%, capped at £2,500 (hence the £7,500 maximum over 3 months).  If you did not trade for the entirety of the three years then this will be averaged out for the period that you did.  This payment will be a single lump sum.
 
Please use the eligibility checker here https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/self-employment-support/enter-unique-taxpayer-reference to see if you will be able to claim – but please let me know if you need any assistance with this.
Generally, you will be eligible if; 

• You traded in the 2018/19 Tax Year and submitted your Tax Return before 23 April 2020
• You continued to trade in 2019/20
• You intend to continue to trade in 2020/21
• You have been adversely affected by CV19
• Your self-employed profits were less than £50,000 (averaged out over the 3 tax years where relevant)
• Your self-employed profits equate to more than 50% of your overall income (averaged out over the 3 tax years where relevant)

 
But please use the checker to be sure.
The information that you will need for the claim is;

• Your Unique Tax Reference (UTR)
• Your NI Number
• Your Government Gateway login details
• Your Bank Account details

 
If you are unsure of your UTR or NI, please let me know.  If you do not yet have a Government Gateway login, you will be able to set one up when you check your eligibility – I am attaching a guide to help you do this.
The claims will be able to be made from the 13th May, but HMRC will issue the date that you can make yours – we suggest checking your eligibility asap as there is a suggestion that this might have a baring on your place in the ‘queue’.
Unfortunately, we cannot make the claim on your behalf, but if you need any assistance at all please let me know.
Guidance from this link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme#howmuch
Kind regards
Philip Rowberry  ACCA FMAAT
Director

The Licensing Guys are delighted to be acting for London’s Most Popular Pub!
Today has been a red-letter day for The Licensing Guys as we have just picked up a most singular commission. 
The Kenton Arms, a National Award-winning pub in Hackney, have placed their most recent application for a Variation to their Premises Licence with us.
Here is a summary of the Kenton’s many accolades:
“Best Place to Drink in the UK Runners Up” by The Observer Monthly Food Awards 2019
“Best Freehouse Pub in Britain National Finalist” in the Great British Pub Awards
“Most Loved Pub in Hackney" by Time Out Love London Awards 2018
“Most Loved Pub in London Runners Up” by Time Out Love London Awards 2018
“Most Loved LGBTQ+ Hangout in Hackney” by Time Out London Awards 2018
“Most Dog-friendly Pub in London Runner Up” by The Dog-friendly Pub Awards 2018
"Best Pub in Hackney" by Time Out Love London Awards 2016
"Best Hackney Entrepreneur" by The Mayor of Hackney's Business Awards 2016
"Most Loved Pub in London" by Time Out London's Love London Awards 2015
"Best Pub in Hackney" by Time Out London's Love London Awards 2015
"Best Pub in Homerton (E9)" by Time Out London's Love London Awards 2014
"Best Pub in Hackney" by Hackney Post's Excellence Awards 2014
"Best Pub in Hackney 2013" by Hackney Citizen's Best of Hackney Awards
“Best Newcomer in London" in the Great British Pub Awards 2010.
 
On hearing the news, Paul NEADES (Operations Director for TLG) said, “I can’t wait to get in there for a pint! Just my luck we’re in Lock-Down!”

There were no BBQ's to be made from these or fancy urinals as I had to break the news that these still remained the property of the brewer and that it was illegal to trade these in for scrap.
I made a call to Kegwatch who I had seen at a NationalPubwatch Conference who arranged collection of all the empty kegs within a couple of weeks.

If you find a stack of empty barrels in a property that you take over or have any empty's in your cellar with no  one brewery taking this to be returned give Kegwatch a call. 
​https://www.kegwatch.co.uk/

The Licensing Guys were delighted to be approached by Kier at Colcombe House Cider in Hereford to obtain a licence for his premises, we acted immediately by attending site and measuring up the premises alongside the proposed areas that alcohol would be sold or consumed.
With some great ideas in the pipeline we discussed tasting events that will help maximise sales and brand awareness.
With the plans professionally drawn by our planning team we submitted the application to Herefordshire Council along side some Temporary Event Notices to enable Kier to start selling his products online. We provided all the relevant compliance paperwork that is needed for both a on and off sales.
We visited site again to place the Blue notices ensuring that these were placed in the correct position, and here we are at the end of the consultation period and Kier has his new Premises Licence which enables him to open to sell onsite and online alongside the ability to hold tasting events at the location.
Visit them here https://colcombehouse.co.uk/