According to the managing director of one of the UK's largest pub companies, new licensing legislation is unlikely to deliver any increase in turnover.
David Elliott, who runs Greene King Pub Partners with an estate of 1,260 tenanted and leased pubs, described the transition to new licensing laws in November as a “costly experience”.
“Licensees are now faced with the reality that the new legislation will not deliver increased turnover,” he said.
Government ministers had claimed the new licensing system would save the pub industry £1.9bn over the first 10 years’ operation, but both trade associations and licensing lawyers have since expressed their scepticism about this.
Elliott’s comments came as he and his team submitted the first set of licence applications from Pub Partners.
A total of 24 submissions were handed in to West Oxfordshire Local Authority, after a licensing team was set up for £1.5m in January to help licensees with the process.
The Pub Partners boss also criticised Government delays in publishing the licence application forms and licence fee scales.
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